Large capacity data sales mediation server and method

ABSTRACT

An animation data sales mediation method, an animation data sales mediation system and so on are capable of providing large capacity data such as animation data by a large capacity storage medium in advance, rendering the time required for transfer of the data via the network extremely short by passing a key code for viewing the animation data via the network, rendering the labor and costs required for sales of the animation data extremely low, and providing the latest unauthorized copy technology to the animation data. The animation data sales mediation system has the steps of having a user terminal send to a large capacity data sales server an online access code corresponding to the large capacity data one to one, having the large capacity data sales server send the key code to the user terminal, having the user terminal encrypt and store the key code, and having the animation data used by using the key code.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 09/983,449, filedOct. 24, 2001, now pending, and related to two concurrently filedapplications entitled LARGE CAPACITY DATA SALES SERVER AND RECORDINGMEDIUM RECORDING PROGRAM THEREOF (Attorney Docket No. 072982-0273) andLARGE CAPACITY DATA SALES MEDIATION SERVER AND TERMINAL (Attorney DocketNo. 072982-0275) and based on Japanese Patent Application No.2000-332119, filed Oct. 25, 2000, by Koji Maeda. This application claimsonly subject matter disclosed in the parent application and thereforepresents no new matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to large capacity data sales method andsystem, and large capacity data sales mediation method and system forselling data of a large capacity such as animation data.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In recent years, a technology (service) for distributing data such asmusic via a network as the Internet is rapidly becoming widespread. Forinstance, an incoming tone distribution service for a portable telephoneis quite successful in terms of business.

According to the above conventional technology, however, time requiredfor transmitting data is extremely long in the case of distributing orselling large capacity data of a data amount (capacity) far larger thanmusic data, such as animation data, map data and dictionary data isconducted. For this reason, communication costs and so on also becomehuge. In addition, sending and receiving data of such large amount putan enormous load on a communication environment.

Therefore, distribution and sales of data via the network is effectivefor data of a small capacity such as melody data for incoming tone as inthe above conventional technology, but it is not practical in the caseof large capacity data such as animation data.

On the other hand, storage media capable of storing large capacity dataas animation data are currently quite inexpensive. For instance, aDVD-ROM, a typical one of such storage media is capable of storing largecapacity data such as movies, and may be even attached to a magazine orthe like nowadays.

Moreover, a CD-ROM, which is becoming popular as a storage medium forstoring large capacity data in spite of its smaller capacity than theDVD-ROM, are occasionally distributed for free.

Thus, it is expected that the animation data will be sold anddistributed by such storage media rather than a communication line inthe future as well.

As for a sales and distribution method of the animation data using suchstorage media, however, various problems are pointed out. A firstproblem is that this large capacity data may be distributed to a numberof unspecified persons. A second problem is that this large capacitydata becomes expensive. A third problem is that much labor and costs arerequired therefor.

The first problem is a problem of so-called unauthorized copies. Forinstance, a variety of technologies for preventing unauthorized copiesare installed on the DVD-ROM, but these unauthorized copy preventingtechnologies are uniformly provided as a standard of the DVD-ROM, and sotheir level relatively become lower and vulnerable as the technologylevel is ever rising.

The second problem arises because such a sales method only allowsassignment of the large capacity data. To be more specific, it is veryexpensive to sell and/or distribute storage media in which the largecapacity data is stored because recovering the storage media isdifficult as compared with the cases of renting them (assignment with adeadline).

The third problem arises because large capacity media must be sold byway of an actual distribution channel. For instance, a still popularsales method of delivering an animation medium to a predeterminedretailer and collecting a price from a purchaser requires a lot of laborand costs. While comprehensive efficiency of this sales method is betterthan said cases of distributing and/or selling the large capacity datasuch as the animation data by using the aforementioned network, it isextremely inefficient if compared to a distribution method via a networkof small-scale data such as the above music data.

On the other hand, the first conventional technology disclosed inJapanese Patent Publication No. HEI 03-3290 discloses an imagereproduction system constituted so that an image reproduction device hasmode switches for respective mode functions, and a recording medium withan inserted key code corresponding to one of the modes of the above modeswitches is provided so as to operate the image reproduction device onlyin the case where, on setting the recording medium on the above imagereproduction device, the mode function of the above mode switchcorresponds to the key code of the recording medium.

As for this first conventional technology, however, it is just that theimage reproduction device operates only in the case where the key codeof the recording medium corresponds to the mode function of the abovemode switch, and as the applicant who proposed the first conventionaltechnology points out, it does not show a countermeasure against theabove-mentioned problem of unauthorized copies even though it can beused in order not to show children an educationally undesirable VTR, forinstance. In addition, it does not indicate any countermeasure againstthe above second and third problems.

The second conventional technology disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid Open No. HEI 08-235759 discloses a disk reproducingdevice for reproducing an image program recorded on a disk on which animage display prohibition process is performed by correspondence of alock code, having a power switch for turning on and off the power of thedevice proper, and a means for storing an image display state and areproduced position address when the above described power switch isturned off, a checking means for checking a previous image display statefrom the above described means for storing when the above describedpower switch is turned on, and means for maintaining an image displayprohibition state in the case where, as a result of the check, it isverified that the image display prohibition was cancelled to displayimages last time due to correspondence of the lock code.

However, this second conventional technology is a technology for aproblem that, in a parental process technology for rendering a part orall of a video tape, a video disk and so on irreproducible withoutinputting a specific key code, a player having a memory play functionfor, if switched off and then switched on, starting reproduction from ascene reproduced when switched off last time has the memory playfunction also performed to the video disk having undergone the parentalprocess, and so it is not a technology for solving the problemsdescribed above.

The third conventional technology disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. HEI 10-334048 discloses a method of sendingpredetermined chargeable information on a WWW server to a user side inresponse to a request from a personal computer on the above user side onwhich a WWW browser of the Internet is mounted; the above method having:a first password sending stage for inputting a first password on theabove WWW browser from the personal computer on the above user side andsending the inputted first password to the above WWW server; a secondpassword returning stage for the above WWW server to issue a secondpassword according to the above first password and return the abovesecond password to the user browsing the above WWW browser; a passwordnotifying stage for the above user to dial a number of a center deviceof a videotex communication network displayed on the above WWW browserand notify the above center device of the above first password and thesecond password acquired by way of the above Internet and also notifythe above WWW server or a server different from the above WWW server andhaving a function of governing an accounting check of the WWW server ofthe above first password and the second password received by the abovecenter device; a password checking stage for the above WWW server or theabove different server to check the above first password and the secondpassword received from the above user via the above center deviceagainst the above first password received from the above user via theabove Internet and the above second password issued by the above WWWserver; and a chargeable information sending stage for sending the abovepredetermined chargeable information from the above WWW server to thepersonal computer on the above user side in the case where the checkresults in the above password checking stage correspond.

However, this third conventional technology is a technology for handlingthe chargeable information that is difficult to handle on the WWW serverby using the videotex communication network, and so it is not atechnology for solving the problems described above.

The fourth conventional technology disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. HEI 11-225324 discloses a technology relatedto a reproduction system for reproducing AV information recorded on astorage medium and outputting it on a display device, the above systemhaving: a means for storing resource use information for, to use relatedinformation related to predetermined stream information included in theabove described AV information, connecting to a resource having saidrelated information, the above resource use information having aplurality of definitions of the same related information based onpredetermined system attribute information; and control means for, whenreproducing the above described AV information, selecting the abovedescribed resource use information determined based on the abovedescribed system attribute information to process the above describedrelated information acquired from the resource and display it on thescreen of the above described display device.

However, this fourth conventional technology is a technology for, in asystem for reproducing the AV information from a storage medium such asthe DVD, acquiring related information related to predetermined streaminformation by using resources of a computer network in addition toordinary reproduction of a title, and so it is not a technology forsolving the problems described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been implemented in consideration of the aboveproblems, and its object is to provide an animation data sales mediationmethod, an animation data sales mediation system, an animation datasales mediation server and a user terminal capable of providing largecapacity data such as animation data by a large capacity storage mediumin advance, rendering the time required for transfer of the data via thenetwork extremely short by passing the key code for viewing theanimation data via the network, rendering the labor and costs requiredfor sales of the animation data extremely low, and providing the latestunauthorized copy prevention technology to the animation data.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an animation datasales method, an animation data sales system, an animation data salesserver and a user terminal capable of providing large capacity data suchas animation data by a large capacity storage medium in advance,rendering the time required for transfer of the data extremely short bypassing the key code for viewing the animation data via the network,rendering the labor and costs required for sales of the animation dataextremely low, and providing the latest unauthorized copy preventiontechnology to the animation data.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a storage mediumrecording an animation data purchase program for purchasing largecapacity data such as animation data in this manner. 10024] In order toattain these objects, the first aspect of the present invention providesa large capacity data sales system having a user terminal and a largecapacity data sales server, the user terminal comprising: means forsending to the large capacity data sales server an online access codeunique to large capacity data stored in a large capacity storage mediumby including it in a registration request signal; means for encryptingand storing a key code included in a registration confirmation signalreceived from the large capacity data sales server; and means forreproducing the large capacity data by using the key code, and the largecapacity data sales server comprising: means for storing information onthe key code corresponding to the online access code one to one; andmeans for, in the case where the registration request signal has aregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, acquiring the keycode corresponding to the online access code from the means for storingand sending the key code to the user terminal by including it in theregistration confirmation signal.

In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, in thelarge capacity data sales system according to the first aspect of thepresent invention, the large capacity data sales server furthercomprises means for determining the number of the user terminals forstoring the key code corresponding to the online access code one to onerespectively.

In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, in thelarge capacity data sales system according to the second aspect of thepresent invention, the large capacity data sales server sets conditionsfor the registration confirmation signal sending requirement, includinga condition that information on the key code corresponding to the onlineaccess code one to one is stored in the means for storing and acondition that the number of the user terminals for storing the key codecorresponding to the online access code one to one is smaller than apredetermined number.

In accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention, in thelarge capacity data sales system according to the first aspect of thepresent invention, the registration request signal further includes useridentification information, and the large capacity data sales serverfurther has storage means for user information, and sets a condition,for the registration confirmation signal sending requirement, that theuser identification information corresponds to the user information.

In accordance with the fifth aspect of the present invention, in thelarge capacity data sales system according to the first aspect of thepresent invention, the large capacity data sales server sets acondition, for the registration confirmation signal sending requirement,that a usage charge for the large capacity data is paid.

In accordance with the sixth aspect of the present invention, in thelarge capacity data sales system according to the first aspect of thepresent invention, the user terminal further comprises: means forsending to the large capacity data sales server a deregistration requestsignal for requesting erasure of the key code in the user terminal; andmeans for, in the case of receiving the deregistration confirmationsignal from the large capacity data sales server, erasing the key codein the user terminal, and the large capacity data sales server furthercomprises means for, in the case where the deregistration request signalhas a deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, sendingthe deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal.

In accordance with the seventh aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a user terminal comprising: means for sending to the largecapacity data sales server an online access code unique to largecapacity data stored in a large capacity storage medium by including itin a registration request signal; means for encrypting and storing a keycode included in a registration confirmation signal received from thelarge capacity data sales server; and means for reproducing the largecapacity data by using the key code.

In accordance with the eighth aspect of the present invention, the userterminal according to the seventh aspect of the present inventioncomprises: means for sending to the large capacity data sales server aderegistration request signal including a request for erasure of the keycode in the user terminal; and means for, in the case of receiving aderegistration confirmation signal from the large capacity data salesserver, erasing the key code.

In accordance with the ninth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a large capacity data sales server, comprising: means forstoring information on a key code corresponding to an online access codeone to one; means for, in the case where a registration request signalreceived from a user terminal has a registration confirmation signalsending requirement, acquiring the key code corresponding to the onlineaccess code one to one from the means for storing and sending aregistration confirmation signal including the key code to the userterminal.

In accordance with the tenth aspect of the present invention, the largecapacity data sales server according to the ninth aspect of the presentinvention, comprises: means for determining the number of the userterminals for storing the key code corresponding to the online accesscode one to one respectively; and conditions for the registrationconfirmation signal sending requirement including a condition thatinformation on the key code corresponding to the online access code oneto one is stored in the means for storing and a condition that thenumber of the user terminals for storing the key code corresponding tothe online access code one to one is smaller than a predeterminednumber.

In accordance with the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in thelarge capacity data sales server according to the tenth aspect of thepresent invention, the registration request signal further includes useridentification information, and the server further has storage means foruser information, and sets a condition, for the registrationconfirmation signal sending requirement, that the user identificationinformation corresponds to the user information.

In accordance with the twelfth aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales server according to the ninth aspect of thepresent invention is characterized by setting a condition, for theregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, that a usagecharge for the large capacity data is paid.

In accordance with the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales server according to the ninth aspect of thepresent invention is characterized by further comprising means for, inthe case where a deregistration request signal has a deregistrationconfirmation signal sending requirement, sending a deregistrationconfirmation signal to the user terminal having sent the deregistrationrequest signal.

In accordance with the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a large capacity data sales method comprising the steps of:having a user terminal extract from a large capacity storage medium anonline access code corresponding to large capacity data one to one andsend the online access code to a large capacity data sales server byincluding it in a registration request signal; in the case where theregistration request signal has a registration confirmation signalsending requirement, having the large capacity data sales server send tothe user terminal a registration confirmation signal including a keycode corresponding to the online access code one to one; having the userterminal encrypt and store the key code; and having the user terminalreproduce the large capacity data by using the key code.

In accordance with the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales method according to the fourteenth aspect ofthe present invention further comprises the step of: having the largecapacity data sales server determine for each online access code thenumber of the user terminals for storing the key code corresponding tothe online access code one to one; the conditions for the registrationrequest signal to have the registration confirmation signal sendingrequirement including a condition that the large capacity data salesserver can acquire information on the key code corresponding to theonline access code one to one and a condition that the number of theuser terminals for storing the key code is smaller than a predeterminednumber.

In accordance with the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in thelarge capacity data sales method according to the fourteenth aspect ofthe present invention, the registration request signal further includesuser identification information, and the large capacity data salesserver further stores user information, and sets a condition, for theregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, that the useridentification information corresponds to the user information.

In accordance with the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales method according to the fourteenth aspect ofthe present invention is characterized by setting a condition, for theregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, that a usagecharge for the large capacity data is paid.

In accordance with the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales method according to the fourteenth aspect ofthe present invention comprises the steps of: having the user terminalsend to the large capacity data sales server a deregistration requestsignal including a request for erasure of the key code in the userterminal; in the case where the deregistration request signal has aderegistration confirmation signal sending requirement, having the largecapacity data sales server send the deregistration confirmation signalto the user terminal; and in the case of receiving the deregistrationconfirmation signal from the large capacity data sales server, havingthe user terminal erase the key code.

In accordance with the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a large capacity data sales mediation system having a userterminal, a large capacity data sales mediation server and a largecapacity data sales server, the user terminal comprising: means forsending to the large capacity data sales server a registration requestsignal including user identification information and an online accesscode unique to large capacity data stored in a large capacity storagemedium; means for encrypting and storing a key code included in aregistration confirmation signal received from the large capacity datasales server; and means for reproducing the large capacity data by usingthe key code, the large capacity data sales server comprising: means forstoring information on the key code corresponding to the online accesscode one to one; means for sending the user identification informationto the large capacity data sales mediation server; and means for, in thecase where the registration request signal inputted from the userterminal has a registration confirmation signal sending requirement,acquiring the key code corresponding to the online access code from themeans for storing and sending the key code to the user terminal byincluding it in the registration confirmation signal, and the largecapacity data sales mediation server comprising: storage means for userinformation; and means for determining whether or not the userinformation corresponding to the user identification information isstored in the storage means and sending the determination results to thelarge capacity data sales mediation server, and the registrationconfirmation signal sending requirement setting a condition that itreceives from the large capacity data sales mediation server a notice tothe effect that the user information corresponding to the useridentification information is stored in the storage means.

In accordance with the twentieth aspect of the present invention, in thelarge capacity data sales mediation system according to the nineteenthaspect of the present invention, the large capacity data sales serverfurther comprises means for determining the number of the user terminalsfor storing the key code corresponding to the online access code one toone respectively.

In accordance with the twenty first aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation system according to thetwentieth aspect of the present invention, the large capacity data salesserver further has conditions for the registration confirmation signalsending requirement including a condition that information on the keycode corresponding to the online access code one to one is stored in themeans for storing, and a condition that the number of the user terminalsfor storing the key code corresponding to the online access code one toone is smaller than a predetermined number.

In accordance with the twenty second aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation system according to thenineteenth aspect of the present invention, the large capacity datasales server sets a condition, for the registration confirmation signalsending requirement, that a usage charge for the large capacity data ispaid.

In accordance with the twenty third aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation system according to thenineteenth aspect of the present invention, the user terminal furthercomprises: means for sending to the large capacity data sales server aderegistration request signal for requesting erasure of the key code inthe user terminal; and means for, in the case of receiving thederegistration confirmation signal from the large capacity data salesserver, erasing the key code in the user terminal, and the largecapacity data sales server further comprises means for, in the casewhere the deregistration request signal has a deregistrationconfirmation signal sending requirement, sending the deregistrationconfirmation signal to the user terminal.

In accordance with the twenty fourth aspect of the present invention,there is provided a large capacity data sales server, comprising: meansfor storing information on a key code corresponding to an online accesscode one to one; means for having a large capacity data sales mediationserver perform user authentication based on user identificationinformation included in a registration request signal inputted from auser terminal; and means for, in the case where the registration requestsignal has a registration confirmation signal sending requirement,acquiring the key code corresponding to the online access code from themeans for storing and sending the key code to the user terminal byincluding it in a registration confirmation signal, the registrationconfirmation signal sending requirement including a condition that theuser is identified by the user authentication.

In accordance with the twenty fifth aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales server according to the twenty fourth aspectof the present invention further comprises: means for determining thenumber of the user terminals for storing the key code corresponding tothe online access code one to one respectively; and conditions, for theregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, that is, acondition that information on the key code corresponding to the onlineaccess code one to one is stored in the means for storing and acondition that the number of the user terminals for storing the key codecorresponding to the online access code one to one is smaller than apredetermined number.

In accordance with the twenty sixth aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales server according to the twenty fourth aspectof the present invention is characterized by setting a condition, forthe registration confirmation signal sending requirement, that a usagecharge for the large capacity data is paid.

In accordance with the twenty seventh aspect of the present invention,the large capacity data sales server according to claim the twentyfourth aspect of the present invention further comprises means for, inthe case where a received deregistration request signal has aderegistration confirmation signal sending requirement, sending aderegistration confirmation signal to the user terminal.

In accordance with the twenty eighth aspect of the present invention,there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation servercomprising: storage means for user information; and means fordetermining whether or not the user information corresponding to useridentification information inputted from a large capacity data salesserver is stored in the storage means and sending the determinationresults to the large capacity data sales mediation server.

In accordance with the twenty ninth aspect of the present invention,there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation methodcomprising the steps of: having a user terminal extract from a largecapacity storage medium an online access code corresponding to largecapacity data one to one and send a registration request signalincluding user identification information and the online access code toa large capacity data sales server; having the large capacity data salesserver send the user identification information to the large capacitydata sales mediation server; having the large capacity data salesmediation server perform user authentication based on the useridentification information and send authentication results to the largecapacity data sales server; in the case where the registration requestsignal has a registration confirmation signal sending requirement,having the large capacity data sales server send to the user terminal aregistration confirmation signal including the key code corresponding tothe online access code one to one; having the user terminal encrypt andstore the key code; and having the user terminal reproduce the largecapacity data by using the key code, wherein the registrationconfirmation signal sending requirement has a condition that the user isidentified by the authentication results.

In accordance with the thirtieth aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales mediation method according to the twenty ninthaspect of the present invention further comprises the step of: havingthe large capacity data sales server determine for each online accesscode the number of the user terminals for storing the key codecorresponding to the online access code one to one; the conditions forthe registration request signal to meet the registration confirmationsignal sending requirement including a condition that the large capacitydata sales server can acquire information on the key code correspondingto the online access code one to one and a condition that the number ofthe user terminals for storing the key code is smaller than apredetermined number.

In accordance with the thirty first aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales mediation method according to the twenty ninthaspect of the present invention is characterized by setting a condition,for the registration confirmation signal sending requirement, that ausage charge for the large capacity data is paid.

In accordance with the thirty second aspect of the present invention,the large capacity data sales mediation method according to the thirtyfirst aspect of the present invention further comprises the steps of:having a manager of the large capacity data sales mediation server paythe usage charge to a manager of the large capacity data sales server;and having the manager of the large capacity data sales mediation servercollect the usage charge from the user of the large capacity data.

In accordance with the thirty third aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales mediation method according to the twenty ninthaspect of the present invention further comprises the steps of: havingthe user terminal send to the large capacity data sales server aderegistration request signal including a request for erasure of the keycode in the user terminal; in the case where the deregistration requestsignal has a deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement,having the large capacity data sales server send the deregistrationconfirmation signal to the user terminal; and in the case of receivingthe deregistration confirmation signal from the large capacity datasales server, having the user terminal erase the key code.

In accordance with the thirty fourth aspect of the present invention,there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation system having auser terminal, a large capacity data sales mediation server and a largecapacity data sales server, the user terminal comprising: means forsending to the large capacity data sales mediation server a registrationrequest signal including user identification information and an onlineaccess code unique to large capacity data stored in a large capacitystorage medium; means for encrypting and storing a key code included ina registration confirmation signal received from the large capacity datasales mediation server; and means for reproducing large capacity data byusing the key code, and the large capacity data sales mediation servercomprising: storage means for user information; means for determiningwhether or not user information corresponding to the user identificationinformation is stored in the storage means; means for sending an onlineaccess code included in the registration request signal to the largecapacity data sales server; means for, in the case where theregistration request signal inputted from the user terminal has aregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, sending to theuser terminal the registration confirmation signal including the keycode inputted from the large capacity data sales server; and means fordetermining the number of the user terminals for storing the key codecorresponding to the online access code one to one, and the largecapacity data sales server comprising: means for storing information onthe key code corresponding to the online access code one to one; andmeans for acquiring the inputted key code corresponding to the onlineaccess code from the means for storing and sending the key code to thelarge capacity data sales mediation server, and the registrationconfirmation signal sending requirement including a condition that userinformation corresponding to the user information included in theregistration request signal is stored in the storage means, a conditionthat the information on the key code corresponding to the online accesscode one to one is stored in the means for storing, and a condition thatthe number of the user terminals for storing the key code correspondingto the online access code one to one is smaller than a predeterminednumber.

In accordance with the thirty fifth aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation system according to the thirtyfourth aspect of the present invention, the large capacity data salesmediation server sets a condition, for the registration confirmationsignal sending requirement, that a usage charge for the large capacitydata is paid.

In accordance with the thirty sixth aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation system according to thirtyfourth aspect of the present invention, the user terminal furthercomprises: means for sending to the large capacity data sales mediationserver a deregistration request signal for requesting erasure of the keycode in the user terminal; and means for, in the case of receiving aderegistration confirmation signal from the large capacity data salesmediation server, erasing the key code in the user terminal, and thelarge capacity data sales mediation server further has means for, in thecase where the deregistration request signal received has aderegistration confirmation signal sending requirement, sending thederegistration confirmation signal to the user terminal.

In accordance with the thirty seventh aspect of the present invention,there is provided a user terminal comprising: means for sending to alarge capacity data sales mediation server a registration request signalincluding user identification information and an online access codeunique to large capacity data stored in a large capacity storage medium;means for encrypting and storing a key code included in a registrationconfirmation signal received from the large capacity data salesmediation server; and means for reproducing large capacity data by usingthe key code.

In accordance with the thirty eighth aspect of the present invention,the user terminal according to the thirty seventh aspect of the presentinvention further comprises: means for sending to the large capacitydata sales mediation server a deregistration request signal requestingerasure of the key code in the user terminal; and means for, in the caseof receiving a deregistration confirmation signal from the largecapacity data sales mediation server, erasing the key code in the userterminal.

In accordance with the thirty ninth aspect of the present invention,there is provided a large capacity data sales server comprising: meansfor storing information on a key code corresponding to an online accesscode one to one; means for acquiring from the means for storing the keycode corresponding to the online access code inputted from the largecapacity data sales mediation server and sending the key code to thelarge capacity data sales mediation server.

In accordance with the fortieth aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a large capacity data sales mediation server comprising:storage means for user information; means for determining whether or notthe user information corresponding to user identification informationincluded in a registration request signal is stored in the storagemeans; means for sending an online access code included in theregistration request signal to the large capacity data sales server;means for, in the case where the registration request signal has aregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, sending to theuser terminal the registration confirmation signal including a key codeinputted from the large capacity data sales server; and means fordetermining the number of the user terminals for storing the key codecorresponding to the online access code one to one respectively, theregistration confirmation signal sending requirement setting a conditionthat user information corresponding to the user identificationinformation is stored in the storage means, a condition that theinformation on the key code corresponding to the online access code oneto one is stored in the means for storing, and a condition that thenumber of the user terminals for storing the key code corresponding tothe online access code one to one is smaller than a predeterminednumber.

In accordance with the forty first aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation server according to the fortiethaspect of the present invention, the registration confirmation signalsending requirement includes a condition that a usage charge for thelarge capacity data is paid.

In accordance with the forty second aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales mediation server according to the fortiethaspect of the present invention comprises means for sending aderegistration confirmation signal to the user terminal in the casewhere a deregistration request signal received from the user terminalmeets a deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement.

In accordance with the forty third aspect of the present invention,there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation methodcomprising the steps of: having a user terminal extract from a largecapacity storage medium an online access code corresponding to largecapacity data one to one and send a registration request signalincluding user identification information and the online access code toa large capacity data sales mediation server; having the large capacitydata sales mediation server send the online access code included in theregistration request signal to the large capacity data sales server;having the large capacity data sales server send a key codecorresponding to the inputted online access code one to one to the largecapacity data sales mediation server; in the case where the registrationrequest signal has a registration confirmation signal sendingrequirement, having the large capacity data sales mediation server sendto the user terminal a registration confirmation signal including thekey code inputted from the large capacity data sales server; having theuser terminal encrypt and store the key code; and having the userterminal reproduce the large capacity data by using the key code,wherein the registration confirmation signal sending requirementincludes a condition that user information corresponding to the useridentification information is stored in the large capacity data salesmediation server, a condition that the information on the key codecorresponding to the online access code one to one is stored in thelarge capacity data sales server, and a condition that the number of theuser terminals for storing the key code corresponding to the onlineaccess code one to one is smaller than a predetermined number.

In accordance with the forty fourth aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation method according to the fortythird aspect of the present invention, the registration confirmationsignal sending requirement includes a condition that a usage charge forthe large capacity data is paid.

In accordance with the forty fifth aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales mediation method according to the forty thirdaspect of the present invention further comprises the steps of: havingthe user terminal send to the large capacity data sales mediation servera deregistration request signal including a request for erasure of thekey code in the user terminal; in the case where the receivedderegistration request signal has a deregistration confirmation signalsending requirement, having the large capacity data sales mediationserver send the deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal;and in the case of receiving the deregistration confirmation signal fromthe large capacity data sales mediation server, having the user terminalerase the key code.

In accordance with the forty sixth aspect of the present invention,there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation system having auser terminal, a large capacity data sales mediation server and a largecapacity data sales server, the user terminal comprising: means forsending to the large capacity data sales mediation server a registrationrequest signal including user identification information and an onlineaccess code unique to large capacity data stored in a large capacitystorage medium; means for encrypting and storing a key code included ina registration confirmation signal received from the large capacity datasales mediation server; and means for using large capacity data by usingthe key code, the large capacity data sales server comprising: firstmeans for storing information on the key code corresponding to theonline access code one to one; and means for sending information on thekey code to the large capacity data sales mediation server inpredetermined timing, and the large capacity data sales mediation servercomprising: storage means for user information; second means for storinginformation on the key code corresponding to the online access code oneto one; means for determining the number of the user terminals forstoring the key code corresponding to the online access code one to onerespectively; means for acquiring the information on the key code fromthe large capacity data sales server and storing it in the second meansfor storing; means for determining whether or not user informationcorresponding to the user identification information is stored in thestorage means; and means for, in the case where the registration requestsignal has a registration confirmation signal sending requirement,acquiring the key code corresponding to the registration request signalone to one from the second means for storing and sending to the userterminal the registration confirmation signal including the key code,wherein the registration confirmation signal sending requirementincludes a condition that user information corresponding to the useridentification information is stored in the storage means, a conditionthat the information on the key code corresponding to the online accesscode one to one is stored in either the first or second means forstoring, and a condition that the number of the user terminals forstoring the key code corresponding to the online access code one to oneis smaller than a predetermined number.

In accordance with the forty seventh aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation system according to the fortysixth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined timing istiming to be given a notice from the large capacity data sales mediationserver that no key code corresponding to the online access code isstored in the second means for storing.

In accordance with the forty eighth aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation system according to the fortysixth aspect of the present invention, the large capacity data salesmediation server sets a condition, for the registration confirmationsignal sending requirement, that a usage charge for the large capacitydata is paid.

In accordance with the forty ninth aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation system according to the fortysixth aspect of the present invention, the user terminal furthercomprises: means for sending to the large capacity data sales mediationserver a deregistration request signal for requesting erasure of the keycode in the user terminal; and means for, in the case of receiving aderegistration confirmation signal from the large capacity data salesmediation server, erasing the key code in the user terminal, and thelarge capacity data sales mediation server further comprises means for,in the case where the received deregistration request signal has aderegistration confirmation signal sending requirement, sending thederegistration confirmation signal to the user terminal.

In accordance with the fiftieth aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a large capacity data sales server comprising: means forstoring information on a key code corresponding to an online access codeone to one; and means for sending information on the key code to a largecapacity data sales mediation server in predetermined timing.

In accordance with the fifty first aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales server according to the fiftieth aspect ofthe present invention, the predetermined timing is the timing to begiven a notice that the large capacity data sales mediation serverdetects no key signal corresponding to the online access signal storedin the server.

In accordance with the fifty second aspect of the present invention,there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation servercomprising: storage means for user information; means for storinginformation on a key code corresponding to an online access code one toone; means for acquiring the information on the key code from the largecapacity data sales server and storing it in the means for storing;means for determining whether or not user information corresponding touser identification information included in a registration requestsignal inputted from the user terminal is stored in the storage means;means for, in the case where the registration request signal has aregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, acquiring the keycode corresponding to the registration request signal one to one fromthe means for storing and sending to the user terminal the registrationconfirmation signal including the key code; means for determining thenumber of the user terminals for storing the key code corresponding tothe online access code one to one respectively, wherein the registrationconfirmation signal sending requirement includes a condition that userinformation corresponding to the user identification information isstored in the storage means, a condition that the information on the keycode corresponding to the online access code one to one is stored in themeans for storing, and a condition that the number of the user terminalsfor storing the key code corresponding to the online access code one toone is smaller than a predetermined number.

In accordance with the fifty third aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation server according to the fiftysecond aspect of the present invention, the information on the key codeis acquired from the large capacity data sales server in the case ofdetecting no key code corresponding to the online access code includedin the registration request signal stored in the means for storing.

In accordance with the fifty fourth aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation server according to the fiftysecond aspect of the present invention, the registration confirmationsignal sending requirement includes a condition that a usage charge forthe large capacity data is paid.

In accordance with the fifty fifth aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales mediation server according to the fifty secondaspect of the present invention is characterized by having means for, inthe case where the received deregistration request signal has aderegistration confirmation signal sending requirement, sending aderegistration confirmation signal to the user terminal.

In accordance with the fifty sixth aspect of the present invention,there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation methodcomprising the steps of: having a large capacity data sales server sendto a large capacity data sales mediation server information on a keycode corresponding to an online access code one to one; having the largecapacity data sales mediation server store the information on the keycode; having a user terminal extract the online access codecorresponding one to one to large capacity data stored in a largecapacity storage medium storing the large capacity data and send aregistration request signal including user identification informationand the online access code to the large capacity data sales mediationserver; in the case where the registration request signal has aregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, having the largecapacity data sales mediation server send to the user terminal aregistration confirmation signal including the key code corresponding tothe online access signal included in the registration request signal;having the user terminal encrypt and store the key code; and having theuser terminal reproduce the large capacity data by using the key code,the registration confirmation signal sending requirement including acondition that user information corresponding to the user identificationinformation is stored in the large capacity data sales mediation server,a condition that the information on the key code corresponding to theonline access code one to one is stored in either the large capacitydata sales mediation server or the large capacity data sales server, anda condition that the number of the user terminals for storing the keycode corresponding to the online access code one to one is smaller thana predetermined number.

In accordance with the fifty seventh aspect of the present invention, inthe large capacity data sales mediation method according to the fiftysixth aspect of the present invention, the registration confirmationsignal sending requirement includes a condition that a usage charge forthe large capacity data is paid.

In accordance with the fifty eighth aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales mediation method according to the fifty sixthaspect of the present invention further comprises the steps of: in thecase where no information on the key code corresponding to the onlineaccess code is stored, having the large capacity data sales mediationserver send the online access code to the large capacity data salesserver; and having the large capacity data sales server send theinformation on the key code corresponding to the online access code tothe large capacity data sales mediation server.

In accordance with the fifty ninth aspect of the present invention, thelarge capacity data sales mediation method according to the fifty sixthaspect of the present invention further comprising the steps of: havingthe user terminal send to the large capacity data sales mediation servera deregistration request signal including a request for erasure of thekey code in the user terminal; in the case where the receivedderegistration request signal has a deregistration confirmation signalsending requirement, having the large capacity data sales mediationserver send the deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal;and in the case of receiving the deregistration confirmation signal fromthe large capacity data sales mediation server, having the user terminalerase the key code.

In accordance with the sixtieth aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a computer-readable recording medium recording a program forimplementing the steps of: sending to a large capacity data sales servera registration request signal including an online access code unique tolarge capacity data; extracting a key code in a registrationconfirmation signal inputted from the large capacity data sales serverto encrypt and store it; and decoding the key code and using the largecapacity data by using the key code.

In accordance with the sixty first aspect of the present invention, thecomputer-readable recording medium according to the sixtieth aspect ofthe present invention records a program for further implementing thesteps of: sending to the large capacity data sales server aderegistration request signal for requesting deregistration; and in thecase of receiving a deregistration confirmation signal from the largecapacity data sales server, erasing the stored key code.

In accordance with the sixty second aspect of the present invention,there is provided a computer-readable recording medium recording aprogram for implementing the steps of: sending to a large capacity datasales mediation server a registration request signal including an onlineaccess code unique to large capacity data; extracting a key code in aregistration confirmation signal inputted from the large capacity datasales mediation server to encrypt and store it; and decoding the keycode and using the large capacity data by using the key code.

In accordance with the sixty third aspect of the present invention, thecomputer-readable recording medium according to the sixty second aspectof the present invention, records a program for further implementing thesteps of: sending to the large capacity data sales mediation server aderegistration request signal for requesting deregistration; and in thecase of receiving the deregistration confirmation signal from the largecapacity data sales mediation server, erasing the stored key code.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention will become moreapparent from the consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a first diagram for describing configuration of a largecapacity data sales mediation system and a flow of data and so on;

FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing configuration of a large capacitydata sales system and the flow of data and so on;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for describing the large capacity data salesmediation system;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing internal configuration of a userterminal;

FIG. 5 is a diagram representing types of signals;

FIG. 6 is a first block diagram showing the internal configuration of alarge capacity data sales server;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for describing operation of a key code sendingfeasibility determination division 84 in the case where a registrationrequest signal is inputted;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for describing operation of the key code sendingfeasibility determination division 84 in the case where a deregistrationrequest signal is inputted;

FIG. 9 is a second block diagram showing the internal configuration of alarge capacity data sales server;

FIG. 10 is a first sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales system;

FIG. 11 is a second sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales system;

FIG. 12 is a third sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales system;

FIG. 13 is a fourth sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales system;

FIG. 14 is a third block diagram showing the internal configuration ofthe large capacity data sales server;

FIG. 15 is a first block diagram showing the internal configuration of alarge capacity data sales mediation server;

FIG. 16 is a first sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 17 is a second sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 18 is a third sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 19 is a second block diagram showing the internal configuration ofthe large capacity data sales mediation server;

FIG. 20 is a fourth block diagram showing the internal configuration ofthe large capacity data sales server;

FIG. 21 is a second diagram for describing the configuration of thelarge capacity data sales mediation system and the flow of data and soon;

FIG. 22 is a fourth sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 23 is a fifth sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 24 is a sixth sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 25 is a seventh sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 26 is an eighth sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 27 is a third block diagram showing the internal configuration ofthe large capacity data sales mediation server;

FIG. 28 is a fifth block diagram showing the internal configuration ofthe large capacity data sales server;

FIG. 29 is a third diagram for describing the configuration of the largecapacity data sales mediation system and the flow of data (signals) andso on;

FIG. 30 is a ninth sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 31 is a tenth sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 32 is an eleventh sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 33 is a twelfth sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 34 is a thirteenth sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 35 is a fourteenth sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system;

FIG. 36 is a fifteenth sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system; and

FIG. 37 is a sixteenth sequence diagram for describing the flow ofprocessing in the large capacity data sales mediation system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail referring to attached drawings.

The following description is one embodiment of the present invention,and the present invention should not be limited by such description.

While the following will be described by using animation data that isone form of large capacity data, the large capacity data is not limitedto the animation data but it may be any data having capacity of whichdistribution by a data distribution method using a network is notrealistic in terms of download time, communication costs and so on, suchas map data, programs, music data and dictionary data.

In addition, while the following will be described by using an animationmedium that is one of large capacity storage media, the large capacitystorage media are not limited to it and they include a DVD-ROM, a CD-ROMand so on capable of storing the above described large capacity data,such as animation data, map data, programs, music data and dictionarydata. Such large capacity data does not need to be stored in one largecapacity storage medium but may be stored in a plurality of media.

First, an animation data sales system, which is a large capacity datasales system will be described, and an animation data sales server,which is a large capacity data sales server and a user terminal will bedescribed.

Large Capacity Data Sales System

The animation data sales system of the present invention has the userterminal and the animation data sales server. FIG. 2 shows an example ofthis. In this drawing, the server of an animation distribution servicecompany 80 falls under the animation data sales server.

<Animation Data Sales System>

As shown in FIG. 2, the animation data sales system has user terminals40 and 50 that are the first user terminals and the server of theanimation distribution service company 80 having the first animationdata sales server.

Hereafter, the animation data sales system will be described, and thefirst user terminals and the first animation data sales server will alsobe described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of data (signal) and an animationmedium in the animation data sales system.

As shown in FIG. 2, a user 10 acquires from a PC (personal computer)shop 20 and so on an animation medium 30 in which the animation data isstored. Moreover, the animation medium 30 may be acquired not only fromthe PC shop 20 but from an arbitrary place. As a charge may be collectedas mentioned later, it is not necessary to collect the charge (aconsideration for the animation medium (animation data)) whendistributing the animation medium 30. Accordingly, the animation medium30 may be distributed anywhere such as the PC shop 20 as shown in FIG.2, or at a retailer, a station and so on otherwise.

The animation medium 30 includes at least the animation data and anonline access code 60 for acquiring a key code 90. In addition, it mayhave a reproduction program for reproducing the animation data on theuser terminals 40 and 50. Also, it may have transmission program forsending the online access code 60 to the animation distribution servicecompany 80.

Moreover, the animation medium 30 (animation data) may be reproduced bythe reproduction program not stored in the animation medium 30. Forinstance, it may be reproduced by the reproduction program stored inadvance in the user terminals 40 and 50 or by an animation datareproducing device that may be included in the user terminals 40 and 50.

Moreover, any format can be used for the formats (compressed format,storage format and so on) of the animation data, the above program andso on.

To reproduce the animation data (animation medium), it requires at leastthe program or the device for reproducing the above described animationdata and the key code 90 corresponding to the animation medium(animation data). To be more specific, the animation data cannot bereproduced in the case where there is no key code 90 unique to theanimation medium (animation data).

Thus, the key code 90 is unique to each animation medium (animationdata), and besides, only a predetermined number (preferably one) thereofis provided, and is encrypted by cryptography and stored in the userterminal 40.

Because of this, the animation medium (animation data) is not viewed bya plurality of user terminals under one license (key code 90). To bemore specific, the animation data sales mediation system of the presentinvention prevents unauthorized copies by using key code technology,providing only a predetermined number (preferably one) of the key code90 and using the cryptography.

Any technology may be used for the key code technology. To be morespecific, either a technology in the public domain or the latesttechnology may be used for the key code technology.

As described above, the predetermined unauthorized copy preventiontechnology is mounted on the animation medium (animation data) and theanimation data reproducing device (or the user terminals 40 and 50).

However, even if this unauthorized copy prevention technology is thelatest technology at the stage of establishing specifications of theanimation medium and so on, it gradually becomes inferior due to thedaily progress in the technology, and so the possibility of crackingthis unauthorized copy prevention technology becomes gradually high. Forthis reason, once the unauthorized copy prevention technology isdecrypted and an unauthorized copy technology is invented, theunauthorized copy prevention technology for the animation medium becomesuseless since the networks have come into wide use.

Accordingly, as mentioned above, it is possible to change theunauthorized copy prevention technology for each animation medium(animation data) by allowing any technology to be used as the key codetechnology and thus it becomes very difficult to make unauthorizedcopies (to decrypt and analyze the unauthorized copy preventiontechnology).

Furthermore, as the use of the newest key code technology allows thenewest unauthorized copy prevention technology to be adopted inever-advancing technological standards, in addition to the unauthorizedcopy prevention technology unique to the animation medium that becomesinferior to the ever-advancing technological standards, so that itbecomes very difficult to make unauthorized copies.

The user 10 acquires the key code 90 required for reproducing thisanimation medium (animation data) from the server of the animationdistribution service company 80 by using the user terminal 40. As amethod of acquiring this, the online access code 60 stored in theanimation medium 30 is sent to the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 and the key code 90 corresponding to it is sent inreturn. The details will be described below.

The user terminal 40 only has to send and receive data (signals) such asthe online access code 60 and the key code 90 to and from the server ofthe animation distribution service company 80. To be more specific, thefirst user terminals and the first animation data sales server just haveto be connected to an environment capable of data communication such asa network 100. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the user terminal 40 can beconnected to the network via an Internet provider 70.

The user 10 sends a registration request signal having at least theonline access code 60 to the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 by using the user terminal 40. User information canbe sent in addition to the online access code 60 by this registrationrequest signal. This user information can be any information by whichthe user can be identified, and in the case of collecting a charge forthe animation medium (animation data), it can be any information forcollecting a consideration (charge) of the animation data (animationmedium) such as the user's name, address, telephone number and paymentmethod of the charge.

Moreover, in the case where the number of the issued key code 90 issmaller than the above predetermined number, the user 10 can cancel thecontract once and execute a view contract again to reproduce theanimation data on a terminal other than the user terminal in which thekey code 90 is stored. This will be described later.

The server of the animation distribution service company 80 firstdetermines whether or not there is the predetermined key code 90corresponding to the online access code 60. Next, it performs a searchas to whether the predetermined number of the key codes 90 have alreadybeen issued to the online access code 60.

The predetermined number of the key codes 90 are issued to one onlineaccess code 60. To be more specific, the number of the user terminalsand animation reproducing devices capable of reproducing one animationmedium (animation data) will be a limited number.

Thus, the key code 90 is no longer provided to the registration requestsignal sent from the animation medium (counterfeit) copied in anunauthorized manner, and it becomes possible to prevent reproduction ofthe animation data by the counterfeit. To be more specific, it will nolonger be reproduced on one animation medium by an indefinite number ofpersons.

The number of the key codes 90 to be issued should preferably be 1 thatallows the charge to be collected from each person (user terminal,animation reproducing device).

As it only issues the limited number of the key codes 90 (licenses), itis possible, in the case of billing the charge (consideration) for theanimation medium (animation data), to bill and/or collect from eachperson (each user 10, each user terminal 40, 50) for the charge.

In other words, as the key code 90 unique to the animation medium(animation data) is only passed to the user 10 having sent the onlineaccess code 60 to the animation distribution service company 80, itbecomes possible to collect the charge from the user 10 having viewedthe animation data.

Hereafter, the case where only one key code 90 is provided (issued) tothe online access code 60 will be taken as an example and described.

The key code 90 is only stored in the user terminal 40 having sent theregistration request signal including the online access code 60.Accordingly, the animation medium (animation data) is only reproduced onthe user terminal 40 (or the animation data reproducing device undermanagement by the user terminal 40).

Thus, the user 10 enter into a contract with the animation distributionservice company 80 to reproduce the animation medium 30 on the userterminal 40 (or the animation data reproducing device under managementby the user terminal 40).

The user 10 cancels the above contract in the manner mentioned later inthe case of reproducing the animation medium 30 on the user terminal 50(or the animation data reproducing device under management by the userterminal 50).

Next, the user terminal 50 is used to send the online access code 60 tothe server of the animation distribution service company 80 and have thekey code 90 sent in return to the user terminal 50 to be stored therein.Thus, it becomes possible for the user 10 to reproduce the animation onthe user terminal 50 (or the animation data reproducing device undermanagement by the user terminal 50).

Moreover, in the case of changing the user terminal for reproducing theanimation medium 30 in this manner, a charge collection method can beestablished arbitrarily, for instance, a charge collection method fornot newly collecting the charge from the same user 10.

Any other user (not shown) cannot reproduce the animation medium 30 on auser terminal that is not shown. It is because the user cannot receivethe key code 90 corresponding to the online access code 60 even if theonline access code 60 is sent to the animation distribution servicecompany 80, as described above. To be more specific, the server of theanimation distribution service company 80 does not issue the key code 90to this user (user terminal) since a key code 90 corresponding to theonline access code 60 has already been sent (issued) to the user 10(user terminal 40).

Accordingly, there will no longer be a situation where so-calledsecondhand goods appear on the market in a state uncontrollable by theanimation distribution service company, that is, in a state where it isimpossible to collect the charge for the animation medium (animationdata) from another user. It is because, in order for the other user toreproduce the animation by using the animation medium 30, it is firstnecessary for the other user, after the user 10 cancelled the abovecontract as to be mentioned later, to have a contract with the animationdistribution service company 80 in the above described manner.

Thus, it becomes possible for the animation distribution service company80 to supply the animation medium 30 to the market without apprehensionof the problem that marketing of one animation medium 30 may cause it tobe reproduced by indefinite number of users (the problem of so-calledsecondhand goods).

In addition, the user 10 only has to pay the charge when viewing theanimation data. Accordingly, it becomes possible to implement a chargesystem that is more elaborate than a conventional one.

Moreover, especially in the case of including the user information inthe above registration request signal, it becomes possible for theanimation distribution service company 80 to grasp the user 10 viewingthe animation data, and so a fairly detailed market research can beconducted.

Furthermore, it becomes possible to effectively deal with the problem ofthefts (stealing, shop lifting) that has been problematic in theconventional sales method of the animation media via retailers and so onby rendering the key code 90 essential to viewing the animation data.

Moreover, any method can be used as a method of sending the onlineaccess code 60 to the server of the animation distribution servicecompany 80. For instance, it is also feasible to store in the animationmedium 30 a program for sending the registration request signalincluding the online access code 60 to the animation distributionservice company 80. In this case, it becomes possible for the user 10 tosend the online access code 60 to the animation distribution servicecompany 80 by starting the program from the user terminal 40. It is alsofeasible to send the online access code 60 to the animation distributionservice company 80 by using a communication function of the userterminal 40.

The server of the animation distribution service company 80 stores thekey code 90 corresponding to the online access code 60, and in the casewhere the predetermined number of the key codes 90 have not been issuedto the online access code 60 yet, it sends the key code 90 to the userterminal 40 having sent the online access code 60.

In addition, it increases the number of the key codes 90 provided to theonline access code 60 by one and stores this number.

Moreover, it is also feasible to store information on the user (userinformation) to whom the key code 90 was provided.

The user terminal 40 stores the key code 90. In this case, the key code90 is encrypted by cryptography and stored. Any technology may be usedfor the cryptography, that is, either a technology in the public domainor the latest technology may be used.

Thus, the key code 90 is encrypted and stored, so that even if this keycode 90 is duplicated onto another user terminal, the animation medium30 can no longer be reproduced. Thus, it becomes possible to effectivelyprevent the animation medium 30 from being reproduced by a plurality ofuser terminals (or the animation data reproducing devices undermanagement by the user terminals).

In addition, as any technology may be used for the cryptography, itbecomes possible, for instance, to change this technology for eachanimation medium 30 and render unauthorized copying more difficult.

Furthermore, it becomes possible, by using the newest cryptography, toadopt the newest copy prevention technology from the viewpoint of theever-advancing technological level and render unauthorized copying evenmore difficult.

When reproducing the animation medium 30, the user terminal 40 (or theanimation data reproducing device under management by the user terminal40) decodes and extracts the above encrypted key code 90 to reproducethe animation data by using the key code 90. In the case where there isno key code 90, the animation data (animation medium) cannot bereproduced.

As mentioned above, the user 10 can also cancel this contract. Thiscontract is cancelled by deleting the key code 90 stored in the userterminal 40 and erasing the information about the key code 90corresponding to the online access code 60 being provided to the userterminal 40 from this server. To be more specific, any method ofcanceling the contract may be used as far as it is a method ofconducting such work.

For instance, it is also possible to cancel the contract as follows.

The user 10 sends the deregistration request signal from the userterminal 40 to the server of the animation distribution service company80. This deregistration request signal includes at least the onlineaccess code 60 and the name of the user terminal in which the key code90 is stored.

The server of the animation distribution service company 80 determineswhether or not the online access code 60 is an existing code. If itexists, the server determines whether or not the key code 90corresponding to the online access code 60 is provided. Moreover, it ispossible, in addition to such determination, to let the server determinewhether or not the key code 90 is provided to the user terminal 40. Inaddition, it is also possible to add the user information to the abovederegistration request and let the server determine whether or not thekey code 90 is provided to the user identified by the user information.

The server of the animation distribution service company 80 sends aderegistration confirmation signal to the user terminal 40 in the casewhere the key code 90 is provided, meaning that the deregistrationrequest is a reasonable request. In addition, it stores the number ofthe key codes 90 provided to the online access code 60 by reducing it byone. In this case, the above user information and so on may be erased,and the information about the key code 90 not being provided to the user10 may be added.

The user terminal 40 erases the stored key code 90 upon receipt of thisderegistration confirmation. Thus, the viewing contract of the animationmedium (animation data) is canceled.

Hereafter, the first user terminal will be described in detail referringto FIG. 4.

(First User Terminal)

According to FIG. 4, the user terminals 40 and 50 as the first userterminals have a network I/F 41, a control division 42, a signalgenerating division 43, a storage division 44, a signal decryptingdivision 45, an animation data reproduction control division 46 and akey code cancellation division 47, and perform the above describedoperation.

The network I/F 41 performs communication with the animationdistribution service company 80.

The control division 42 controls the network I/F 41, the signalgenerating division 43, the storage division 44, the signal decryptingdivision 45, the animation data reproduction control division 46 and thekey code cancellation division 47, and controls operation of the userterminals.

In addition, it encrypts the key code 90 included in the aboveregistration confirmation signal and stores it in the storage division44.

The signal generating division 43 creates the above described signals,and sends them to the server of the animation distribution servicecompany 80 via the network I/F 42. As for these signals, at least theregistration request signal and the deregistration request signal shownin FIG. 5 are generated. The registration request signal and thederegistration request signal are created according to instructions ofthe user 10 as described above and sent to the server of the animationdistribution service company 80.

The storage division 44 stores the key code 90 received from the serverof the animation distribution service company 80.

The signal decrypting division 45 decrypts a signal sent from theanimation distribution service company as shown in FIG. 2, and deliversthe decrypting results to the control division 42. This signal may bethe registration confirmation signal or a registration reject signal forthe registration request signal, or the deregistration confirmationsignal or a deregistration reject signal for the deregistration requestsignal.

The animation data reproduction control division 46 uses the key code 90decoded by the key code cancellation division 47 to reproduce theanimation data on the animation data reproducing device.

Moreover, the animation data reproducing device may exist in the userterminal 40. This animation data reproducing device should be able todisplay the animation data at least, and in the case where thisanimation data has audio data, it should also be able to display theaudio data.

The data included in the animation medium 30 is read by the animationmedium (large capacity medium) reading division (not shown). Thisanimation medium reading division may be either inside or outside theuser terminal. It may also be placed inside the animation datareproducing device.

Moreover, as described above, these signals may be generated by thesignal generating division 43, or it may also be generated by thecontrol division 42 based on the program included in the animationmedium 30 and so on.

In addition, as described above, the animation data may also begenerated software-wise by the control division 42 (or the animationdata reproduction control division 46) based on the animationreproduction program included in the animation medium 30 and so on.

In addition, the signal received from the animation distribution servicecompany 80 may be analyzed by the control division 42 operating based onthe program included in the animation medium 30 and so on.

In addition, the process of encrypting the key code 90 and storing it inthe storage division 44 may be performed by an encryption processingdivision (not shown).

Moreover, the user terminal 40 is an example of the first user terminalsof the animation data sales system. Accordingly, in the case where thelarge capacity data is other data such as map data, it has a map datareproduction control division instead of the animation data reproductioncontrol division 46.

Hereafter, the first animation data sales server will be described byreferring to FIG. 6.

(First Animation Data Sales Server)

The server of the animation distribution service company 80 that is thefirst animation data sales server has a network I/F 81, a controldivision 82, a received information decrypting division 83, a key codesending feasibility determining division 84, an online code database 85and a signal generating division 86, and performs the above describedoperation.

The network I/F 81 performs communication with the user terminals 40 and50.

The control division 82 controls the network I/F 81, the receivedinformation decrypting division 83, the key code sending feasibilitydetermination division 84 and the online code database 85, and performsthe operation of the above described server of the animationdistribution service company 80.

The received information decrypting division 83 analyzes the signal (theregistration request signal, the deregistration request signal etc.)shown in FIG. 2 received via the network I/F 81, and delivers theanalysis results to the control division 82.

As for the online code database 85, the online access code 60 providedto the animation medium 30 and the key code 90 corresponding thereto oneto one are stored in the online code database 85 as being associated toeach other. In addition, for each online access code 60, the number ofthe provided key codes 90 corresponding thereto is stored.

The signal generating division 86 generates the signal as shown in FIG.5 and sends it to the user terminal 40. To be more specific, theregistration confirmation signal or the registration reject signal isgenerated for the registration request signal, and the deregistrationconfirmation signal or the deregistration reject signal for thederegistration request signal. It follows an instruction from the keycode sending feasibility determination division 84 as to which of theregistration confirmation signal or the registration reject signal isgenerated or which of the deregistration confirmation signal or thederegistration reject signal is generated.

If the results of analyzing the registration request signal are inputtedto the control division 82, the key code sending feasibilitydetermination division 84 performs a search, as shown in FIG. 7, as towhether the online access code 60 is stored in the online code database85 (step S1).

In the case where the online access code 60 is stored (step S1/YES), thekey code sending feasibility determination division 84 checks the numberof the provided key codes 90 corresponding thereto (step S2).

The key code sending feasibility determination division 84 checkswhether the number of the provided key codes 90 is smaller than theabove predetermined number (the number of the key codes 90 provided toone online access code 60) (step S3).

In the case where the number of the provided key codes 90 is smallerthan the above predetermined number (step S3/YES), the key code sendingfeasibility determination division 84 extracts from the online codedatabase 85 the key code 90 corresponding to the online access code 60(step S4). Then the key code sending feasibility determination division84 will have the signal generating division 86 create the online accesscode 90 via a network I/F 91 and send the registration confirmationsignal including the key code 90 to the user terminal having sent theregistration request (step S5).

Next, the number of the key codes 90 provided to each online access code60 stored in the online code database 85 is increased by one (step S6),and the process is terminated.

In the case where the online access code 60 is not stored (in the casewhere it is not the legitimate online access code 60; step S1/NO), andin the case where the number of the provided key codes 90 is equal to orlarger than the above predetermined number (step S3/NO), the key codesending feasibility determination division 84 will have the signalgenerating division 86 create the registration reject signal and send itto the user terminal 40 having sent the online access code 60 (step S7),and the process is terminated.

In the case where the above deregistration request is inputted, the keycode sending feasibility determination division 84 checks whether theonline access code 60 included in the deregistration request islegitimate (checks whether the deregistration request is legitimate;step S10). To be more specific, it checks whether the key code hasalready been provided to the online access code 60, whether the key code90 has been provided to the user terminal that is the sender of thederegistration request, and so on.

In the case where this deregistration request is legitimate (stepS10/YES), the key code sending feasibility determination division 84will have the signal generating division 86 create the deregistrationconfirmation signal and send it via the network I/F 81 to the userterminal 40 having sent the above deregistration request (step S11).

Then the number of the provided key codes 90 corresponding to the onlineaccess code 60 stored in the online code database 85 is subtracted byone (step S12), and the process is terminated.

In the case where this deregistration request is not legitimate (stepS10/NO), the key code sending feasibility determination division 84 willhave the signal generating division 86 create the deregistration rejectsignal and send it via the network I/F 81 to the user terminal 40 havingsent the above deregistration request signal (step SI 3), and theprocess is terminated.

Moreover, the online access code 60 may be associated with the key code90 by a predetermined conditional formula and so on. In this case, thekey code 90 is created by the control division 82, the receivedinformation decrypting division 83, or the key code sending feasibilitydetermination division 84 based on an online access code 60 sent fromthe user terminal 40 and by using the above predetermined conditionalformula.

In addition, a condition other than the ones described above may be setas a requirement for sending the above registration confirmation signaland/or a requirement for sending the deregistration confirmation signal.For instance, payment of a consideration for the animation medium(animation data) may be added as a condition for sending theregistration confirmation signal. Hereafter, the requirement for sendingthe registration confirmation signal is represented as a registrationconfirmation signal sending requirement and the requirement for sendingthe deregistration confirmation signal as a deregistration confirmationsignal sending requirement.

In addition, it may further have a user information database 87 and auser identification division 88, as shown in FIG. 9.

In the user information database 87, information on the user 10 havingprovided the key code 60 will be stored. This information includes atleast the name of the user terminal having provided the online accesscode 60, the name of the online access code 60 and the name of the keycode 90.

The user identification division 88 manages the user informationdatabase 87 and performs user authentication based on the inputted userinformation. In addition, it registers and updates the user informationin the user information database 87. As mentioned later, more detailedinformation (user name, charge collection method and so on) may bestored in the case of collecting the charge for the animation medium(animation data) from the user 10.

In this case, as a condition of the registration confirmation signalsending requirement and/or the deregistration confirmation signalsending requirement, a condition that the user 10 can be identified as aresult of the user authentication by the user identification division 88may be added.

Moreover, it is a matter of course that these components may be operatedby the control division 82 according to the program.

Thus, it becomes possible to reproduce the animation medium (animationdata) by exchanging signals between the user terminal and the server ofthe animation distribution service company. FIG. 5 shows the six signalsrequired for reproduction of this animation data, their source oftransmission, etc. To be more specific, the above operation isimplemented by the registration request signal, the registrationconfirmation signal, the registration reject signal, the deregistrationrequest signal, the deregistration confirmation signal and thederegistration reject signal. The flow of this operation (signals) issummarized using the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 10 to 13.

FIGS. 10 and 11 describe the operation by which the user terminal 40acquires the key code 90 from the animation distribution service company80.

As shown in FIG. 10, the user terminal 40 sends the registration requestsignal to the server of the animation distribution service company 80.This registration request signal includes at least the online accesscode 60.

The server of the animation distribution service company 80 determineswhether this registration request signal satisfies the aboveregistration confirmation signal sending requirement. In the case whereit satisfies the requirement, it sends to the user terminal 40 theregistration confirmation signal including the key code 90 as shown inFIG. 10.

The user terminal 40 encrypts and stores the key code 90 included in thereceived registration confirmation signal.

In the case where it does not satisfy the above requirement, the serverof the animation distribution service company 80 sends the registrationreject signal to the user terminal 40 as shown in FIG. 11.

Thus, the key code 90 for reproducing the animation medium (animationdata) is sent only to the user terminal 40 having sent the registrationrequest signal satisfying the requirement.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the flow of a deregistration process.

The user terminal 40 sends the deregistration request to the server ofthe animation distribution service company 80 as shown in FIG. 12.

The server of the animation distribution service company 80 determineswhether this deregistration request satisfies the above deregistrationconfirmation signal sending requirement.

In the case where it satisfies the requirement, it sends thederegistration confirmation signal to the user terminal 40 as shown inFIG. 12.

In the case where it does not satisfy the requirement, it sends thederegistration reject signal to the user terminal 40 as shown in FIG.13.

The user terminal 40 having received the deregistration confirmationsignal erases the key code.

By this method, the key code 90 for reproducing the animation medium(animation data) is deleted by sending the deregistration signalsatisfying the deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement.Thus, the number of the provided key codes 90 stored in the online codedatabase 85 is subtracted by one.

Accordingly, it becomes possible for the user 10 to reproduce theanimation medium 30 on another user terminal (such as the user terminal50) by performing operation according to the sequence diagram of FIG. 10from another user terminal (such as the user terminal 50) (it becomespossible to shift the animation reproduction environment from the userterminal 40 to the user terminal 50).

Next, the method of collecting the charge for the animation medium(animation data) will be described.

(Charge Collection Method)

Collecting the charge for the animation medium (animation data) isvoluntary. To be more specific, the animation medium (animation data)may be delivered either for a consideration or at no charge.

In the case of assigning it for a consideration, the charge may becollected by the following method for instance.

(First Charge Collection Method)

The charge can be collected by adding as the above registrationconfirmation signal sending requirement a condition that theconsideration for the animation medium (animation data) is paid to theanimation distribution service company 80. Any method can be used asthis method of payment, such as paying the above charge to the animationdistribution service company 80 by using electronic money technology orhaving a third party organization make advances.

Moreover, this charge may be paid either in a lump sum or by apredetermined amount for each fixed period. In the latter case, it maybe set such that the payment continues until deregistration or stopsafter the elapse of a predetermined period.

(Second Charge Collection Method)

It is also possible to collect the charge according to viewing time. Anexample of this method is shown below.

The animation data reproduction control division 46 is instructed toreproduce the animation data by the user and then starts to reproduceit, and has the signal generating division 43 generate a reproductionstart signal and send it to the server of the animation distributionservice company 80. This reproduction start signal includes informationon at least the time when the reproduction of the animation data wasstarted and the name of the user terminal that reproduced the data.

The received information decrypting division 83 of the animationdistribution service company 80 stores this information for each userterminal name in the user information database 87.

Next, when the animation data reproduction control division 46 isinstructed to stop the reproduction of the data and then stops it, andthe animation data reproduction control division 46 will have the signalgenerating division 43 generate a reproduction stop signal and send itto the server of the animation distribution service company 80. Thisreproduction stop signal includes information on at least the time whenthe reproduction of the animation data was stopped and the name of theuser terminal that reproduced the data.

The received information decrypting division 83 of the animationdistribution service company 80 stores this information for each userterminal name in the user information database 87.

The control division 82 of the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 checks the above information stored in the userinformation database 87 for each predetermined period, and checks theviewing time of the user 10 during this period to bill the user 10 forthe charge corresponding to this viewing time. Any appropriate methodcan be used as this method of billing (collection) of the charge.

In addition, if the animation data reproduction control division 46 isinstructed to stop the reproduction of the animation data by the user,it may have the signal generating division 43 generate a reproductiontime information signal and send it to the server of the animationdistribution service company 80. This reproduction time informationsignal includes information on at least the time when the animation datawas reproduced and the name of the user terminal that reproduced it.

The received information decrypting division 83 of the animationdistribution service company 80 stores the information included in thereproduction time information signal in the user information database87.

The control division 82 checks the above information stored in the userinformation database 87 for each predetermined period, and checks theviewing time of the user 10 during this period to bill the user 10 forthe charge corresponding to this viewing time.

(Third Charge Collection Method)

It is also possible to collect the charge according to frequency ofviewing instead of the viewing time.

In this case, definition of the frequency of viewing can be establishedarbitrarily, and so, for instance, one view can be defined as viewingall of the animation data was viewed or viewing the animation data forpredetermined time or longer.

If the conditions for counting the above frequency of viewing are met,the animation data reproduction control division 46 has the signaldecrypting division 45 generate a count information signal and send itto the server of the animation distribution service company 80. Thiscount information includes at least the frequency of viewing and thename of the user terminal that reproduced it.

The received information decrypting division 83 of the animationdistribution service company 80 stores this information for each userterminal in the user information database 87.

The control division 82 checks the frequency of viewing of the user 10from the information stored in the user information database 87 for eachpredetermined period, and bills the user 10 for the charge correspondingto this frequency of viewing.

(Fourth Charge Collection Method)

The key code 90 may be erased from the user terminal 40 each time itreproduces the animation data.

That is, in this animation data (large capacity data) sales system, thekey code 90 in the user terminal 40 is erased if the reproduction of theanimation data is stopped or the predetermined time elapses during thereproduction, so that the key code 90 must be newly downloaded in thecase of reproducing the animation data again.

Thus, it is no longer necessary to perform the above described operationfor deregistration in order to reproduce the animation medium on anotheruser terminal. In addition, the animation distribution service company80 can conduct collection of the charge and so on more elaborately sincethe reproduction state of the animation data can be grasped in moredetail.

As for a method of implementing this, it is possible for instance, forthe control division 42 to erase the key code 90 stored in the storagedivision 44 on condition that it must be after the elapse of apredetermined time after the key code 90 is stored in the storagedivision 44 or upon receipt of an instruction to stop the animation fromthe user 10. This condition can be established arbitrarily.

It is also possible that the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 sends a key code erasure order signal to the userterminal 40 after the elapse of the predetermined time after sending thekey code 90, and the signal decrypting division 45 of the user terminal40 erases the key code 90 stored in the storage division 44 via thecontrol division 42 based on this signal.

Moreover, in such a case of assigning the animation medium (animationdata) for a consideration, the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 has the user identification division 88 and the userinformation database 87 as shown in FIG. 9. The user informationrequired for collecting the charge is stored in the user informationdatabase 87. This information includes the user name, charge paymentmethod and so on for instance.

<Animation Data Sales Method>

The animation data sales method as one of the large capacity data salesmethods can be performed as described above.

To be more specific, this data sales method has the steps of: having theuser 10 acquire the animation medium 30 from an animation mediadistribution place such as the PC shop 20; having the user 10 send theregistration request signal including the online access code 60 from theuser terminal 40 to the server of the animation distribution servicecompany 80; and in the case where the above registration request signalsatisfies the registration confirmation signal sending requirement,having the server of the animation distribution service company 80 sendto the user terminal 40 the key code 90 corresponding to the onlineaccess code 60 one to one and essential for reproducing the animationdata.

This animation data sales method may further have the steps of: havingthe user 10 send the deregistration request signal to the animationdistribution service company by using the user terminal 40; in the casewhere this deregistration request signal satisfies the deregistrationconfirmation signal sending requirement, having the server of theanimation distribution service company 80 send the deregistrationconfirmation signal to the user terminal 40; and having the key code 90stored in the user terminal 40 erased.

The above registration confirmation signal sending requirement may be,for instance, the requirement to satisfy the condition that the serverof the animation distribution service company 80 has the key code 90corresponding to the online access code 60 and the condition that thenumber of the issued key codes 90 corresponding to the online accesscode 60 is smaller than the predetermined number. In addition, it can beincluded as a condition that the above registration request signalincludes the user information from which the user 10 can be identified.It can also be included as a condition that the consideration for theanimation medium (animation data) is paid.

The above deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement may be,for instance, that the above deregistration request signal was receivedfrom the user terminal 40 and/or the user 10 having been sent the keycode 90.

In addition, the above animation data sales method may further have thesteps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the animation distributionservice company 80 of the time for reproducing the animation medium(animation data), and having the animation distribution service company80 collect from the user 10 the consideration according to the time.

In addition, the above animation data sales method may further have thesteps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the animation distributionservice company 80 of the frequency of reproducing the animation medium(animation data); and having the animation distribution service company80 collect from the user 10 the consideration according to thefrequency.

Next, the animation data sales mediation system that is the largecapacity data sales mediation system will be described. In addition, itsuser terminal, the animation data sales mediation system, that is thelarge capacity data sales mediation server, the animation data salesserver, that is the large capacity data sales server, and the largecapacity data sales mediation method will be described.

[Large Capacity Data Sales Mediation System]

The animation data sales mediation system of the present invention hasthe user terminal, the animation data sales mediation server and theanimation data sales server. An example of this is shown in FIG. 3. InFIG. 3, the server of the animation distribution service company 80 andthe server of the Internet provider 70 fall under the animation datasales server and the animation data sales mediation server respectively.

In this animation data sales mediation system, the animation data salesmediation server takes charge of some of the functions of the animationdata sales server of the above animation data sales system. Hereafter,the first to third animation data sales mediation systems wherein thefunctions shared between the animation data sales server and theanimation data sales mediation system are different will be described.In addition, the user terminal, the animation data sales server, theanimation data sales mediation server and the animation data salesmediation method will be described.

<First Animation Data Sales Mediation System>

The first animation data sales mediation system has the second userterminal, the first animation data sales mediation server and the secondanimation data sales server.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first animation data sales mediation system hasthe user terminals 40 and 50, the server of the Internet provider 70that is the first animation data sales mediation server, and the serverof the animation distribution service company 80 that is the secondanimation data sales server.

The first animation data sales mediation system is different from theabove animation data sales system on the following point.

The different point is that the user authentication is performed by theserver of the Internet provider 70.

To be more specific, in the case where the user information is includedin the above registration request signal, the server of the animationdistribution service company 80 makes an inquiry to the server of theInternet provider 70 as to whether this user information is legitimate.Then it is rendered as a condition, for the above registrationconfirmation signal sending requirement, that the user information islegitimate.

Thus, it becomes possible to prevent unauthorized copies moreeffectively by rendering the user information as a condition of theabove registration confirmation signal sending requirement. It isbecause the animation distribution service company 80 can grasp theuser's identity.

Accordingly, it is proper enough for the first animation data salesmediation server that it performs the user authentication.

In addition, the second user terminal may be the same as the above firstuser terminal.

In addition, as for the second animation data sales server, it is properenough, in addition to the functions of the above first animation datasales server, that it sends a user authentication request signal to theabove first animation data sales mediation server and have the userauthentication results sent in return, and render the results as acondition for the above registration confirmation signal sendingrequirement.

Moreover, it is proper if the above registration request signal includesthe user information.

As shown in FIG. 14, the server of the animation distribution servicecompany 80 has the network I/F 81, the control division 82, the receivedinformation decrypting division 83, the key code sending feasibilitydetermining division 84, the online code database 85 and the userinformation database 87. Moreover, the user authentication is performedby the server of the Internet provider 70, and so it is not required.

The key code sending feasibility determining division 84 delivers theinputted user information to the server of the Internet provider 70 viathe network I/F 81, and has the user authentication results sent inreturn. In this case, it has the signal generating division 86 createthe user authentication request signal including the user informationand send it to the server of the Internet provider 70.

The user authentication results are a condition for the aboveregistration confirmation signal sending requirement as described above.Thus, in the case where the above registration request signal has theunmistaken (legitimate, correct) user information and satisfies otherrequirements, the key code sending feasibility determining division 84sends the registration confirmation signal to the user terminal 40. Tobe more specific, it sends the registration confirmation signal in thecase where the user 10 is identified.

Operations of the other components are the same as the case of the aboveanimation data sales system.

As shown in FIG. 15, the server of the Internet provider 70 has at leasta network I/F 71, a user identification division 72, a control division73 and a user information database 74.

The network I/F 71 performs communication with the server of theanimation distribution service company 80.

If the user authentication request is inputted from the server of theanimation distribution service company 80, the user identificationdivision 72 determines whether or not the user information included inthe user authentication request matches with the user information storedin the user information database 74. Then it sends the determinationresults to the server of the animation distribution service company 80via the network I/F 71.

The control division 73 controls the network I/F 71, the useridentification division 72 and the user information database 74 andcontrols this server.

The user information database 74 has the user information stored inadvance.

The user authentication may be performed in any manner. For instance,the user identification division 72 checks the user name included in theuser information in the above registration request signal, and performsa search for the user information having the same user name as this fromthe user information database 74. Of the searched-for user information,if there is information matching with all other information, this userinformation is determined to be correct.

Moreover, the user 10 is required to store user information 10 in thefirst animation data sales mediation server in advance. Any appropriatemethod may be used as the method of storing the user information.

Thus, it becomes possible to prevent any unauthorized copies effectivelyby setting a condition that the user information must be correct for theabove registration confirmation signal sending requirement. In addition,it becomes possible for the animation distribution service company 80 tograsp elaborate information such as the place where the animation medium30 exists, usage conditions and so on. This flow will be summarized inFIGS. 16 to 18 with reference to FIG. 1 wherein the flow of signals andso on is added to the block diagram of FIG. 3.

The user terminal 40 sends to the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 the registration request signal including the userinformation 10 and the online access code 60 included in the animationmedium 30 acquired from the PC shop 20 and so on.

The key code sending feasibility determining division 84 determineswhether or not the inputted online access code 60 is legitimate (whetheror not the key code 90 is stored in the online code database 85). Inaddition, it determines whether or not the number of the issued keycodes 90 corresponding to the online access code 60 is smaller than thepredetermined number. In the following description, a requirementwherein the user authentication requirement is excluded from theregistration confirmation signal sending requirement is indicated as acode authentication requirement. As for this code authenticationrequirement, conditions other than those enumerated here may also be setfor determination.

In the case where the above registration request signal does not satisfythe above code authentication requirement, the key code sendingfeasibility determining division 84 sends the registration reject signalto the user terminal 40 as shown in FIG. 18.

In the case where the above registration request signal satisfies theabove code authentication requirement, the key code sending feasibilitydetermining division 84 has the signal generating division 86 generatethe user authentication request signal and send it to the server of theInternet provider 70 as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

The user identification division 72 of the Internet provider 70 performsthe user authentication based on this request, and sends the userauthentication results to the server of the animation distributionservice company 80.

In the case where the user authentication results identify the user 10,the key code sending feasibility determining division 84 sends the keycode 90 to the user 10 (user terminal 40) as shown in FIG. 16. Inaddition, it stores (registers) information that the key code 90 wasprovided to the user in the user information database 87, and increasesthe number of the issued key codes 90 by one and then stores it in theonline code database 85.

The user terminal 40 encrypts and stores the key code 90.

In addition, in the case of receiving the user authentication resultsincluding that the user 10 cannot be identified from the userinformation, the key code sending feasibility determining division 84has the signal generating division 86 generate the registration rejectsignal and send it to the user terminal 40 as shown in FIG. 17.

Moreover, the order of performing the code authentication and the userauthentication can be different from the order shown in FIGS. 16 to 18.

Cancellation of the contract may be conducted in the same manner as theabove animation data sales system. Moreover, a condition that the userinformation should be legitimate may be set as a condition for the abovederegistration confirmation signal sending requirement. In this case,the key code sending feasibility determining division 84 can have theserver of the Internet provider 70 performed this operation.

Moreover, it is a matter of course that each of these components may beoperated by each control division according to the program.

<First Animation Data Sales Mediation Method>

The first animation data sales mediation method may be conducted asdescribed above.

To be more specific, this first animation data sales mediation methodhas the steps of: having the user 10 send to the server of the animationdistribution service company 80 the registration request signal havingat least the user information and the online access code 60; having theanimation distribution service company 80 send the above userinformation to the server of the Internet provider 70; having the serverof the Internet provider 70 perform the user authentication based onthis user information and send the results to the animation distributionservice company 80; having the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 check, the registration confirmation signal sendingrequirement for any condition other than the user authenticationcondition (code authentication condition); having the server of theanimation distribution service company 80 send to the user terminal 40the key code 90 corresponding to the online access code 60 one to one inthe case of meeting the user authentication condition as well as thecode authentication condition; and having the user terminal 40 encryptand store the key code 90.

This animation data sales mediation method may further have the stepsof: having the user 10 send the deregistration request signal to theanimation distribution service company by using the user terminal 40; inthe case where this deregistration request signal satisfies thederegistration confirmation signal sending requirement, having theserver of the animation distribution service company 80 send thederegistration confirmation signal to the user terminal 40; and havingthe user terminal 40 erase the stored key code 90.

In addition, the above deregistration request signal may include theuser information, and the above deregistration confirmation signalsending requirement may include a condition that the user 10 should beidentified The above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 send the user information to the server of theInternet provider 70; and having the server of the Internet provider 70perform the user authentication, and the above server of the animationdistribution service company 80 may use, of the above deregistrationconfirmation signal sending requirement, the user authentication resultsby the server of the Internet provider 70 as the user authenticationcondition.

The above registration confirmation signal sending requirement mayinclude, for instance, the condition that the animation distributionservice company 80 has the key code 90 corresponding to the onlineaccess code 60, the condition that the number of the issued key codes 90corresponding to the online access code 60 is smaller than thepredetermined number and the condition that the user 10 can beidentified from the above user information. In addition, it may beincluded as a condition that the consideration for the animation medium(animation data) is paid. Moreover, the Internet provider 70 may makeadvances for the consideration for the animation medium (animationdata).

The above deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement mayinclude a condition that the above deregistration request signal wasreceived from the user terminal 40 and/or the user 10 having been sentthe key code 90.

In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the animationdistribution service company 80 of the time for reproducing theanimation medium (animation data); and having the animation distributionservice company 80 collect from the user 10 the consideration accordingto this time.

In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the server of theInternet provider 70 of the time for reproducing the animation medium(animation data); and having the Internet provider 70 collect from theuser 10 the consideration according to the time; and having the Internetprovider 70 pay the collected consideration to the animationdistribution service company.

In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the server of theanimation distribution service company 80 of the frequency ofreproducing the animation medium (animation data); and having theanimation distribution service company 80 collect from the user 10 theconsideration according to the frequency.

Moreover, the above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the server of theInternet provider 70 of the frequency of reproducing the animationmedium (animation data); having the Internet provider 70 collect fromthe user 10 the consideration according to the frequency; and having theInternet provider 70 pay the collected consideration to the animationdistribution service company.

<Second Animation Data Sales Mediation System>

The second animation data sales mediation system has a third userterminal, a second animation data sales mediation server and a thirdanimation data sales server.

The third user terminal is different from the first and second userterminals only in that its signal sending source and destination are thesecond animation data sales mediation server.

In this second animation data sales mediation system, the secondanimation data sales mediation server registers and manages the userauthentication and the user information, and the third animation datasales server determines whether or not the online access code isappropriate and manages the key code. Details are described below.

As shown in FIG. 3, this second animation data sales mediation systemhas the user terminals 40 and 50 that are the third user terminals, theserver of the Internet provider 70 that is the second animation datasales mediation server, and the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 that is the third animation data sales server.

As shown in FIG. 19, the server of the Internet provider 70 has thenetwork I/F 71, the user identification division 72, the controldivision 73, the user information database 74, a data distributiondestination determining division 75, an animation distribution servicecompany database 76, a key code sending feasibility determining division78, a received information decrypting division 79 and a signalgenerating division 69.

The network I/F 71 performs communication with the user terminals 40 and50 and the server of the animation distribution service company 80.

The user identification division 72 determines whether or not the user10 is a user registered in the user information database 74 (performsthe user authentication) from the user information included in the aboveregistration request signal inputted from the user terminals 40 and 50.

The control division 73 controls the entire operation of the server.

The user information is registered in the user information database 74.In addition, this user information includes information on the name ofthe animation medium 30 to which the key code 90 is provided and so onfor each user 10.

The data distribution destination determining division 75 determines theserver of the animation distribution service company 80 for sending theonline access code 60 included in the above registration request signalreferring to the animation distribution service company database 76, andsends the online access code 60 to this server.

The animation distribution service company database 76 stores the nameof the animation distribution service company 80 for storing the keycode 90 corresponding to the online access code 60 stored therein. Forinstance, the data of some high-order bytes of the online access code 60may represent the name of the animation distribution service company 80so that a correspondence table of the data and the name of the companywill be stored.

The key code sending feasibility determining division 78 determineswhether or not to send the key code 90 to the user terminal 40 based onthe information inputted from the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 and the user authentication results from the useridentification division 72. In the case of sending the key code 90, thekey code sending feasibility determining division 78 will have thesignal generating division 69 create the above registration confirmationsignal and send it to the user terminal 40. In the case of not sendingthe key code 90, the key code sending feasibility determining division78 will have the above registration reject signal created and sent tothe user terminal 40.

In addition, the key code sending feasibility determining division 78determines whether or not the inputted deregistration request signal hasthe above deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement. If thesignal has the above requirement, the key code sending feasibilitydetermining division 78 will have the signal generating division 69generate the deregistration confirmation signal and send it to the userterminal 40. The key code sending feasibility determining division 78will also have the server of the animation distribution service company80 subtract one from the number of the provided key codes 90. It mayalso add the information that the key code 90 is not (currently)provided to the user information stored in the user information database74. If the signal does not have the above requirement, the key codesending feasibility determining division 78 will have the signalgenerating division 69 send the above deregistration reject signal.

The received information decrypting division 79 decrypts the inputtedsignal and delivers the decryption results to the control division 73.

The signal generating division 69 generates a signal according to aninstruction from the key code sending feasibility determining division78 and sends it to the user terminal 40.

As shown in FIG. 20, the server of the animation distribution servicecompany 80 has the network I/F 81, the control division 82, the receivedinformation decrypting division 83, the key code sending feasibilitydetermining division 84 and the online code database 85.

The network I/F 81 performs communication with the server of theInternet provider 70 at least. It may also be allowed to performcommunication with the user terminals 40 and 50.

The control division 82 controls the entire operation of the server.

The received information decrypting division 83 analyses the data(signals) inputted from the server of the Internet provider 70 anddelivers the analysis results to the control division 82.

The key code sending feasibility determining division 84 determineswhether or not the online access code 60 inputted from the server of theInternet provider 70 is legitimate (whether or not it is stored in theonline code database 85). This can be determined as described above. Thekey code sending feasibility determining division 84 also determineswhether or not the number of the issued key codes 90 corresponding tothe online access code 60 is smaller than the predetermined number thekey code sending feasibility determining division 84 also manages thenumber of the provided key codes 90 for each online access code 60 usingthe online code database 85.

The online code database 85 stores the key code 90 unique to the onlineaccess code 60. In addition, as mentioned above, the number of theprovided key codes 90 is stored for each online access code 60.

Moreover, the key code 90 may be calculated by performing an operationon the online access code 60 according to a predetermined conditionalformula. In this case, the control division 82 (or a key code sendingfeasibility determining division 84) creates the key code 90 from theinputted online access code 60.

Hereafter, the flow of signals in the second animation data salesmediation system will be described referring to FIGS. 21 to 26. FIG. 21shows the flow of the online access code 60 and the key code 90.

As shown in FIG. 22, the user terminal 40 sends the registration requestsignal including at least the online access code 60 and the userinformation to the server of the Internet provider 70.

The user identification division 72 determines whether or not this userinformation matches with the user information stored in the userinformation database 74. The method of this determination may be asdescribed above.

In the case where the user identification division 72 identifies theuser 10, the data distribution destination determining division 75determines the name of the animation distribution service company 80 forsending the online access code 60 by contrasting the information storedin the animation distribution service company database 76 with the aboveregistration request signal. For instance, as described above, the nameof the animation distribution service company represented by somehigh-order bits of the online access code 60 may be determined by usingthe table stored in the animation distribution service company database76.

The data distribution destination determining division 75 sends theonline access code 60 to the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 based on the determination results.

The key code sending feasibility determining division 84 performs thesame operation as mentioned as to the above animation data sales system.To be more specific, it determines whether or not the inputted onlineaccess code 60 is legitimate by referring to the online code database85. In addition, the key code sending feasibility determining division84 determines whether or not the number of the provided key codes 90corresponding to the online access code 60 is smaller than thepredetermined number.

In the case where the online access code 60 is legitimate and the numberof the provided key codes corresponding to the online access code 60 issmaller than the predetermined number, the key code sending feasibilitydetermining division 84 sends the key code 90 corresponding to theonline access code 60 to the server of the Internet provider 70.

If the key code 90 is inputted, the key code sending feasibilitydetermining division 78 adds the information indicating that a licensefor reproducing the animation was provided, to the user informationstored in the user information database 74. This information may be, forinstance, information about the key code 90 being sent to the userterminal 40 or the names of the user terminal 40 and the online accesscode 60 for which animation reproduction was permitted. After adding theuser information, the key code sending feasibility determining division84 will have the signal generating division 69 generate the registrationconfirmation signal including the key code 90 and send it to the userterminal 40. Moreover, other conditions may be added as the aboveregistration confirmation signal sending requirement. In addition, thekey code sending feasibility determining division 84 increases thenumber of the key codes 90 stored in the online code database 85 by one.

Upon receipt of this registration confirmation signal, the user terminal40 encrypts and stores the key code 90 as with the first user terminalin the above animation data sales system and also reproduces theanimation medium (animation data) using the key code 90.

As shown in FIG. 23, in the case where the user identification division72 cannot identify the user 10 (and/or in the case where the aboveregistration request signal does not satisfy another condition of theregistration confirmation signal sending requirement), the key codesending feasibility determining division 78 will have the signalgenerating division 69 create the registration reject signal and send itto the user terminal 40.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 24, if the input from the server of theanimation distribution service company 80 indicates that the codeauthentication was unsuccessful, the key code sending feasibilitydetermining division 78 sends the registration reject signal to the userterminal 40 using the signal generating division 69 as shown in FIG. 24.

If the deregistration request signal is inputted from the user terminal40, the key code sending feasibility determining division 78 of theInternet provider 70 determines whether or not this signal isappropriate as mentioned as to the above animation data sales system.

In the case of effecting deregistration as a result of thedetermination, the key code sending feasibility determining division 78instructs the server of the animation distribution service company 80 tosubtract one from the number of the distributed key codes 90 stored inthe online code database 85 as shown in FIG. 25.

Upon receipt of this instruction, the received information decryptingdivision 83 (or the key code sending feasibility determining division84) of the animation distribution service company 80 subtracts one fromthe above provided number and stores it.

The control division 73 of the Internet provider 70 uses the signalgenerating division 69 thereafter to send the above deregistrationconfirmation signal to the user terminal 40.

If this signal is inputted, the user terminal 40 erases the stored keycodes 90 as described above.

In the case of not effecting deregistration as a result of the abovedetermination, the key code sending feasibility determining division 78sends the deregistration reject signal to the user terminal 40 using thesignal generating division 69.

Thus, as the second animation data sales mediation server performs usermanagement such as the user authentication, user registration and so on,the server of the animation distribution service company 80 only has tomanage the online access code 60 and the key codes 90.

In addition, safety of the server of the animation distribution servicecompany 80 is enhanced since the user 10 no longer accesses the serverdirectly.

Moreover, the order of the user authentication and the codeauthentication may be reversed.

In addition, it is a matter of course that each constituent may beoperated by the control division 82 according to the program.

<Second Animation Data Sales Mediation Method>

The second animation data sales mediation method may be performed asdescribed above.

To be more specific, it has the steps of: having the user send theregistration request signal including at least the online access code 60and the user information to the server of the Internet provider 70;having the server of the Internet provider 70 send the online accesscode 60 to the server of the animation distribution service company 80;in the case where the key code 90 corresponding to the online accesscode 60 is stored in the server of the animation distribution servicecompany 80 and the number of the issued key codes 90 is smaller than thepredetermined number, having the key codes 90 sent to the server of theInternet provider 70; in the case where the above registration requestsignal meets the above registration confirmation signal sendingrequirement, having the server of the Internet provider 70 send theregistration confirmation signal including the key codes 90 to the userterminal, add the information about this transmission, and increase thenumber of the key codes 90 stored in the animation distribution servicecompany 80 by one; and having the user terminal 40 encrypt and store thekey codes 90.

This animation data sales mediation method may further have the stepsof: having the user 10 send the deregistration request signal to theserver of the Internet provider 70 using the user terminal 40; in thecase where the deregistration request signal satisfies thederegistration confirmation signal sending requirement, having theserver of the Internet provider 70 send the deregistration confirmationsignal to the user terminal 40; having the key codes 90 stored in theuser terminal 40 erased; and having one subtracted from the number ofthe key codes 90 stored in the server of the animation distributionservice company 80.

The above registration confirmation signal sending requirement mayinclude, for instance, the condition that the server of the animationdistribution service company 80 has the key code 90 corresponding to theonline access code 60, the condition that the number of the issued keycodes 90 corresponding to the online access code 60 is smaller than thepredetermined number, and the condition that the user 10 can beidentified from the above user information. In addition, it may includethe condition that the consideration for the animation medium (animationdata) is paid. Moreover, the Internet provider 70 may make advances forthe consideration for the animation medium (animation data).

The above deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, forinstance, may include a condition that the above deregistration requestsignal was received from the user terminal 40 and/or the user 10 havingbeen sent the key code 90.

In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the animationdistribution service company 80 of the time for reproducing theanimation medium (animation data); and having the animation distributionservice company 80 collect from the user 10 the consideration accordingto this time.

In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the server of theInternet provider 70 of the time for reproducing the animation medium(animation data); and having the Internet provider 70 collect from theuser 10 the consideration according to the time; and having the Internetprovider 70 pay the collected consideration to the animationdistribution service company.

In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the server of theanimation distribution service company 80 of the frequency ofreproducing the animation medium (animation data); and having theanimation distribution service company 80 collect from the user 10 theconsideration according to the frequency.

Moreover, the above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the server of theInternet provider 70 of the frequency of reproducing the animationmedium (animation data); having the Internet provider 70 collect fromthe user 10 the consideration according to the frequency; and having theInternet provider 70 pay the collected consideration to the animationdistribution service company.

<Third Animation Data Sales Mediation System>

The third animation data sales mediation system has a fourth userterminal, a third animation data sales mediation server and a fourthanimation data sales server.

The fourth user terminal is the same as the above third user terminal.

In this third animation data sales mediation system, the third animationdata sales mediation server takes charge of almost all the functions ofthe first animation data sales system in the above animation data salessystem, and the fourth animation data sales server operates only in thecase where no key codes corresponding to the online access code existsin the third animation data sales mediation server. The details will bedescribed below.

As shown in FIG. 3, this third animation data sales mediation system hasthe user terminals 40 and 50 that are the fourth user terminals, theserver of the Internet provider 70 that is the third animation datasales mediation server, and the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 that is the animation data sales server.

As shown in FIG. 27, the server of the Internet provider 70 has thenetwork I/F 71, the user identification division 72, the controldivision 73, a data distribution destination determining division 75,the user information database 74, an animation distribution servicecompany database 76, an online code database 77, the key code sendingfeasibility determining division 78, the received information decryptingdivision 79 and the signal generating division 69.

The network I/F 71 performs communication with the user terminals 40 and50 and the server of the animation distribution service company 80.

The user identification division 72 performs the user authenticationbased on the inputted user information and the user information storedin the user information database 74.

The control division 73 controls operation of this server.

The data distribution destination determining division 75 determines adestination of the online access code 60 inputted from the key codesending feasibility determining division 78 referring to the animationdistribution service company database 76. This can be performed in thesame manner as described above.

The user information is registered in the user information database 74as described above.

The animation distribution service company database 76 has the name ofthe animation distribution service company 80 (or the name of the serverof the animation distribution service company 80) having the key code 90corresponding to the online access code 60 stored as described above.

The online code database 77 stores the key code 90 corresponding to theonline access code 60 as in the case of online code database 85 of theserver of the animation distribution service company 80 in the aboveanimation data sales system. In addition, the number of the provided keycodes 90 is stored for each online access code 60. Moreover, asdescribed above, in the case where the key code 90 can be calculated byapplying a predetermined conditional formula to the online access code60, this conditional formula is stored. The key code 90 is created bythe key code sending feasibility determining division 78 based on thisconditional formula.

A correspondence table of the online access codes 60 and the key codes90, and the key code 90 are acquired from the server of the animationdistribution service company 80 in predetermined timing.

The key code sending feasibility determining division 78 refers to theonline code database 77, just as the key code sending feasibilitydetermining division 84 in the above animation data sales system, todetermine whether or not the inputted registration request signalsatisfies the above registration confirmation signal sendingrequirement. This requirement includes at least the three conditions,that is, a condition that the online access code 60 included in thisregistration request signal is stored in the online code database 77, acondition that the number of the provided key codes corresponding to theonline access code 60 is smaller than the above predetermined number,and a condition that the user 10 can be identified by the useridentification division 72 (user authentication condition). Moreover,the user authentication is performed by the user identification division72. In addition, in the case where the online access code 60 is notstored in the online code database 77, it delivers the online accesscode 60 to the data distribution destination determining division 74.

In the case where the inputted registration request signal meets theabove registration confirmation signal sending requirement, it has thesignal generating division 69 create the registration confirmationsignal and send it to the user terminal 40. In the case where the signaldoes not meet this requirement, the key code sending feasibilitydetermining division 84 will have the signal generating division 69create the registration reject signal and send it to the user terminal40.

In the case where the inputted deregistration request signal meets theabove deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, the keycode sending feasibility determining division 84 will have the signalgenerating division 69 create the deregistration confirmation signal andsend it to the user terminal 40. In the case where the signal does notmeet this requirement, the key code sending feasibility determiningdivision 84 will have the signal generating division 69 create thederegistration reject signal and send it to the user terminal 40.

Moreover, in the case where there is no key code 90 corresponding to theonline access code 60, the key code sending feasibility determiningdivision 78 may either have the signal generating division 69 send theregistration reject signal or have the key code 90 sent from the serverof the animation distribution service company 80. This operation will bementioned later.

The received information decrypting division 79 delivers the analysisresults of the inputted signal to the control division 73.

The signal generating division 69 creates each signal based oninstructions from the key code sending feasibility determining division78 and sends it to the user terminal 40 via the network I/F 71.

As shown in FIG. 28, the server of the animation distribution servicecompany 80 has the network I/F 81, the control division 82, the receivedinformation decrypting division 83, the key code sending feasibilitydetermination division 84 and the online code database 85. The networkI/F 81 performs communication with the server of the Internet provider70. The control division 82 controls the operation of the server.

The key code sending feasibility determination division 84 performs asearch as to whether the key code 90 corresponding to the inputtedonline access code 60 is stored in the online code database 85. In thecase where the key code 90 is stored, it sends the key code to theserver of the Internet provider 70.

The online code database 85 stores at least the key code 90corresponding to the online access code 60. Moreover, as describedabove, it is also possible to store the predetermined conditionalformula for deriving the key code 90 from the online access code 60. Inthe case where the conditional formula is stored in such a manner, thekey code sending feasibility determination division 84 applies thisconditional formula to the online access code 60 and creates the keycode 90.

This flow of signals and so on in the third animation data salesmediation system will be described referring to the sequence diagrams ofFIGS. 30 to 37 and FIGS. 21 and 29.

The user 10 sends the above registration request signal from the userterminal 40 to the server of the Internet provider 70.

The key code sending feasibility determining division 78 determineswhether or not the inputted registration request signal satisfies theabove registration confirmation signal sending requirement. To be morespecific, it has the user authentication performed by the useridentification division 72 and the code authentication performed by thekey code sending feasibility determining division 78. In the case wherethe above registration request signal satisfies the above registrationconfirmation signal sending requirement, the key code sendingfeasibility determining division 78 will have the signal generatingdivision 69 send the registration confirmation signal to the userterminal 40 as shown in FIG. 30. This code authentication requirementincludes at least the two conditions; a condition that the online accesscode 60 included in the above registration request signal is stored inthe online code database 77 and a condition that the number of theprovided key codes 90 is less than the predetermined number, andperforming a search for any other conditions is voluntary. In addition,the number of the provided key codes 90 stored in the online codedatabase 77 is increased by one. It also adds the information that thekey code 90 has been added to the user information stored in the userinformation database 75.

The user terminal 40 encrypts and stores the key code 90 as describedabove.

The flow of the data (signals) is as shown in FIG. 29.

As shown in FIG. 31, in the case where the user 10 could not beidentified as a result of the user authentication by the useridentification division 72, the key code sending feasibility determiningdivision 78 will have the signal generating division 69 send theregistration reject signal to the user terminal 40.

The key code sending feasibility determining division 78 acquires thekey code 90 from the server of the animation distribution servicecompany 80. As for this method of acquisition, either one of thefollowing methods or both of them may be used.

As a first method, there is a method of having the key code sendingfeasibility determination division 84 of the animation distributionservice company 80 send the correspondence table of the online accesscodes 60 and the key codes 90 in predetermined timing.

Accordingly, in the case where no key code 90 corresponding to theonline access code 60 is stored in the online code database 77 of theInternet provider 70, the key code sending feasibility determiningdivision 78 will have the signal generating division 69 send theregistration reject signal as shown in FIG. 32.

As a second method, there is a method of sending the online access codes60 inputted from the user terminal 40 to the animation distributionservice company 80 and having the corresponding key code 90 sent inreturn.

To be more specific, in the case where no key code 90 corresponding tothe online access code 60 is stored in the online code database 77 ofthe Internet provider 70, the key code sending feasibility determiningdivision 78 will have the data distribution destination determiningdivision 75 send the online access codes 60 to the server of thepredetermined animation distribution service company 80. The datadistribution destination determining division 75 determines thedestination of the online access codes 60 as mentioned above. In thecase where the data distribution destination determining division 75cannot determine the destination of the online access codes 60, it willhave the signal generating division 69 send the registration rejectsignal as shown in FIG. 32.

The key code sending feasibility determination division 84 of theanimation distribution service company 80 performs a search for the keycode 90 corresponding to the online access code 60 at the online codedatabase 85. If the key code 90 is successfully retrieved, the key codeis sent to the server of the Internet provider 70.

In the case where the above registration request signal meets the aboveregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, the key codesending feasibility determining division 78 of the Internet provider 70will have the signal generating division 69 send the registrationconfirmation signal as shown in FIG. 33. In the case where the abovesignal does not meet the above requirement, the key code sendingfeasibility determining division 78 will have the signal generatingdivision 69 send the registration reject signal as shown in FIG. 34. Theflow of the data (signals) in the case of sending the registrationconfirmation signal is as shown in FIG. 21.

In the case where the key code sending feasibility determinationdivision 84 of the animation distribution service company 80 cannotsuccessfully perform a search for the key code 90 at the online codedatabase 85, it notifies the server of the Internet provider 70 thereofas shown in FIG. 35.

The key code sending feasibility determining division 78 of the Internetprovider 70 will have the signal generating division 69 send theregistration reject signal to the user terminal 40.

Moreover, a method other than this may be used to acquire the key code90.

As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, deregistration is performed not through theserver of the animation distribution service company 80.

To be more specific, the key code sending feasibility determiningdivision 78 of the Internet provider 70 determines whether or not theinputted deregistration request signal satisfies the abovederegistration confirmation signal sending requirement in the abovedescribed manner. In the case where the above signal satisfies the aboverequirement, the key code sending feasibility determining division 78will have the signal generating division 69 send the deregistrationconfirmation signal as shown in FIG. 36. In the case where it does notsatisfy the requirement, the key code sending feasibility determiningdivision 78 will have the signal generating division 69 send thederegistration reject signal as shown in FIG. 37.

Moreover, it is a matter of course that each of the above constituentsmay be operated by the control division according to the program.

<Third Animation Data Sales Mediation Method>

The third animation data sales mediation method may be performed asdescribed above.

To be more specific, the third animation data sales mediation method hasthe steps of: having the user 10 send the registration request signalincluding at least the online access code 60 and the user information tothe server of the Internet provider 70 using the user terminal 40; inthe case where the above registration request signal satisfies the aboveregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, having the serverof the Internet provider 70 send the registration confirmation signalincluding the key code 90 to the user terminal 40, add the informationindicating that the key code has been sent to the user information to bestored, and increase the number of the key codes 90 stored by theanimation distribution service company 80 by one; and having the userterminal 40 encrypt and store the key codes 90.

In addition, determination of whether the above registration requestsignal satisfies the above registration confirmation signal sendingrequirement may be made based on data showing a corresponding relationbetween the online access code 60 and the key code 90.

Furthermore, this data may be stored in the server of the Internetprovider 70.

In addition, the third animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the server of the animation distributionservice company 80 send to the server of the Internet provider 70 thedata showing the corresponding relation between the online access code60 and the key code 90 in predetermined timing; and having the server ofthe Internet provider 70 store this data.

In addition, the third animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: in the case where the server of the Internet provider70 could not successfully search for the key code 90 corresponding tothe online access code included in the above registration requestsignal, having the server of the animation distribution service company80 send the online access code 60; and in the case where the key code 90corresponding to the online access code 60 inputted in the server of theanimation distribution service company 80 is discovered, having it sentto the server of the Internet provider 70.

This animation data sales mediation method may further have the stepsof: having the user 10 send the deregistration request signal to theserver of the Internet provider 70 using the user terminal 40; in thecase where the deregistration request signal satisfies thederegistration confirmation signal sending requirement, having theserver of the Internet provider 70 send the deregistration confirmationsignal to the user terminal 40; having the key codes 90 stored in theuser terminal 40 erased; and having one subtracted from the number ofthe key codes 90 stored in the server of the Internet provider 70.

The above registration confirmation signal sending requirement mayinclude, for instance, a condition that at least one of the servers ofthe Internet provider 70 and the animation distribution service company80 has the key code 90 corresponding to the online access code 60, thecondition that the number of the issued key codes 90 corresponding tothe online access code 60 is smaller than the predetermined number andthe condition that the user 10 can be identified from the above userinformation. A condition that the consideration for the animation medium(animation data) is paid may also be included. Moreover, the Internetprovider 70 may make advances for the consideration for the animationmedium (animation data).

The above deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, forinstance, may include a condition that the above deregistration requestsignal was received from the user terminal 40 and/or the user 10 havingbeen sent the key code 90.

In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the animationdistribution service company 80 of the time for reproducing theanimation medium (animation data); and having the animation distributionservice company 80 collect from the user 10 the consideration accordingto this time.

In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the server of theInternet provider 70 of the time of reproducing the animation medium(animation data); and having the Internet provider 70 collect from theuser 10 the consideration according to the time; and having the Internetprovider 70 pay the collected consideration to the animationdistribution service company.

In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the server of theanimation distribution service company 80 of the frequency ofreproducing the animation medium (animation data); and having theanimation distribution service company 80 collect from the user 10 theconsideration according to the frequency.

Moreover, the above animation data sales mediation method may furtherhave the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the server of theInternet provider 70 of the frequency of reproducing the animationmedium (animation data); having the Internet provider 70 collect fromthe user 10 the consideration according to the frequency; and having theInternet provider 70 pay the collected consideration to the animationdistribution service company.

Moreover, as to the charge collection method of the above firstanimation data sales system, the same process executed by the animationdistribution service company 80 in the above animation data sales systemmay be performed by the first animation data sales mediation server orthe above second animation data sales server.

Likewise, in the above second animation data sales system, the sameprocess as above may be performed by the above second animation datasales mediation server or the above third animation data sales server.

In addition, in the third animation data sales system, the same processas above may be performed by the third animation data sales mediationserver or the above fourth animation data sales server.

Moreover, while the above description takes the animation data salesmediation server as the server of the Internet provider 70, it is notlimited to this. To be more specific, it is sufficient, as mentionedabove, as long as the functions of the animation data sales mediationserver are possible.

However, there arises the following merit by using the animation datasales mediation server as the server of the Internet provider 70.

The Internet provider 70 can grasp the user's identity (userinformation) in detail. In addition, it is possible to acquire theuser's credit information through the payment for the Internetconnection charge and for products made through the Internet provider 70and so on.

Furthermore, as the Internet provider 70 and the user terminal 40 areconnected one to one instead of the WWW (world wide web), it becomeseven easier to identify the user 10.

Thus, the Internet provider 70 having thorough information about theuser allows any charge to be collected with high reliability and safetyespecially in the case of collecting the charge for the animation medium(animation data). In addition, such charge can be collected togetherwith the Internet connection charge, for instance.

Moreover, it is possible to omit the user information included in theabove registration request signal and/or the above deregistrationrequest signal by using the large capacity data sales mediation serveras the server of the Internet provider. It is because the Internetprovider is connected to the user terminal in one to one correspondenceso as to allow the user to be identified without necessarily acquiringthe user information from the user.

[Record Medium Recording Animation Data Purchase Method]

In addition, the above user terminal may perform the above describedoperation by control of the program recorded on a record medium.

To be more specific, this record medium has the program recorded in aformat readable by the user terminal 40 for implementing on the userterminal 40 the functions of: sending the registration request signalincluding the online access code 60 to the server of the animationdistribution service company 80 or the server of the Internet provider70; encrypting and storing the key code 90 corresponding one to one tothe received animation medium (animation data) inputted to the server ofthe animation distribution service company 80 or the server of theInternet provider 70, being essential for reproducing; and decoding theencrypted key code 90 when reproducing the animation medium (animationdata) to perform reproduction using the key code 90.

In addition, this record medium may have the program recorded forfurther implementing the functions of: sending the deregistrationrequest signal requesting the deregistration to the server of theanimation distribution service company 80 or the server of the Internetprovider 70; and erasing the key code stored in the above user terminalupon receipt of the deregistration confirmation signal from the serverof the animation distribution service company 80 or the Internetprovider 70.

As is clear from the above description, the present invention allowssales and distribution of large capacity data to be efficientlyconducted by providing the user with the large capacity storage mediumin which the large capacity data such as the animation data is stored atan arbitrary place and permitting usage of the large capacity data onthe network.

The present invention requires less work for the sales of the largecapacity data since the consideration for the large capacity data can becollected via the network.

According to the present invention, only the predetermined number of keycodes corresponding one to one to the online access code unique to thelarge capacity data, and which are essential for using the largecapacity data are issued, and so there will no longer be the case wherea single large capacity storage medium is reproduced by a plurality ofuser terminals. Thus, it is possible to prevent the large capacitystorage medium from being copied in an unauthorized manner.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the largecapacity data (storage medium) from being used by a user (user terminal)having no key code since the use of data requires the key codecorresponding one to one to the online access code unique to the largecapacity data. In addition, it is possible to prevent unauthorizedcopies and so on more effectively by adopting the newest technology asthe key code technology.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the largecapacity storage medium from being reproduced on any user terminal otherthan the agreed one since the key code essential for using the largecapacity data is encrypted and stored in the user terminal. In addition,it becomes possible to prevent unauthorized copies and so on moreeffectively by adopting the newest technology as the encryptiontechnology.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible for adistributor of the large capacity data to distribute the large capacitydata by a simple server since the large capacity data sales mediationserver mediates the sales of the large capacity data.

According to the present invention, it is possible for a seller of thelarge capacity storage medium (data) to grasp the information, usagesituation and so on regarding the user of the large capacity data. Inaddition, in the case where the large capacity data sales mediationserver performs the user authentication, it is possible for thedistributor of the large capacity data to easily grasp the userinformation. Moreover, it is possible to grasp the detailed userinformation in the case where the large capacity data sales mediationserver has the detailed user information, in particular, in the casewhere it is the server of the Internet provider.

It is possible to collect the usage charge for the large capacity datafrom each user since the users of the large capacity storage medium canbe grasped.

According to the present invention, it is possible to elaborately setthe usage charge for the large capacity data, and so it is alsopossible, for instance, to collect the usage charge each time the largecapacity data is used. In addition, the user can pay the usage chargeaccording to the actual usage situation of the large capacity data.

In addition, as the usage charge is collected by the large capacity datasales mediation server, it is possible for the seller of the largecapacity data to engage in sales via the network of the animation mediumwithout having to use a complicated system. In particular, in the casewhere the large capacity data sales mediation system is the Internetprovider, it is possible to collect the usage charge together with theInternet connection charge so as to collect the usage charge moresecurely.

According to the present invention, it is possible for the distributorof the large capacity data to collect the usage charge safely andsecurely by performing the user authentication on issuing the key code.Moreover, the work required for the distribution of the large capacitydata on the part of the distributor thereof is alleviated since the userauthentication is performed by the large capacity data sales mediationserver. In addition, it is possible for the distributor of the largecapacity data to collect the usage charge more safely and securely inthe case where the large capacity data sales mediation server has thedetailed user information, in particular, in the case where it is theserver of the Internet provider since the user authentication can beperformed more securely.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described usingspecific terms, the description has been for illustrative purpose only,and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be madewithout departing from the sprit or scope of the following claims.

1. A large capacity data sales mediation system having a user terminal,a large capacity data sales mediation server and a large capacity datasales server, said user terminal comprising: means for sending to saidlarge capacity data sales server a registration request signal includinguser identification information and an online access code unique tolarge capacity data stored in a large capacity storage medium; means forreceiving from said large capacity data sales server a registrationconfirmation signal and for encrypting and storing a key code includedin said registration confirmation signal; and means for reproducing thelarge capacity data by using the key code, said large capacity datasales server comprising: means for storing information on the key codecorresponding to said online access code; means for sending said useridentification information to said large capacity data sales mediationserver; and means for acquiring the key code corresponding to saidonline access code from said means for storing information and sendingthe key code to the user terminal by including it in the registrationconfirmation signal, and said large capacity data sales mediation servercomprising: storage means for storing user information; means fordetermining whether user information corresponding to said useridentification information is stored in said storage means and producinga determination result; and means for sending said determination resultto said large capacity data sales server, wherein said large capacitydata sales server sends said registration confirmation signal to saiduser terminal upon receiving from said large capacity data salesmediation server a determination result indicating that user informationcorresponding to said user identification information is stored in saidstorage means.
 2. The large capacity data sales mediation systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said large capacity data sales serverfurther comprises means for counting a number of user terminals storingthe key code corresponding to said online access code.
 3. The largecapacity data sales mediation system according to claim 2, wherein saidlarge capacity data sales server sends said registration confirmationsignal to said user terminal upon acquiring information on the key codecorresponding to said online access code from said means for storing anddetermining that the number of user terminals storing the key codecorresponding to said online access code is smaller than a predeterminednumber.
 4. The large capacity data sales mediation system according toclaim 1, wherein said large capacity data sales server sends saidregistration confirmation signal to said user terminal upon receivingpayment of a usage charge for said large capacity data.
 5. The largecapacity data sales mediation system according to claim 1, wherein saiduser terminal further comprises: means for sending to said largecapacity data sales server a deregistration request signal forrequesting erasure of said key code in the user terminal; means forreceiving from said large capacity data sales server a deregistrationconfirmation signal; and means for, upon receiving the deregistrationconfirmation signal from the large capacity data sales server, erasingsaid key code in said user terminal, and wherein said large capacitydata sales server further comprises means for sending saidderegistration confirmation signal to said user terminal.
 6. A largecapacity data sales mediation method comprising steps of: extracting ata user terminal from a large capacity storage medium an online accesscode corresponding to large capacity data and sending a registrationrequest signal including user identification information and said onlineaccess code to a large capacity data sales server; sending from saidlarge capacity data sales server said user identification information toa large capacity data sales mediation server; performing at said largecapacity data sales mediation server authentication of said useridentification information and sending results of said authentication tosaid large capacity data sales server; sending from the large capacitydata sales server to said user terminal a registration confirmationsignal including the key code corresponding to said online access code;encrypting at said user terminal said key code; storing at said userterminal said encrypted key code; and reproducing at said user terminalsaid large capacity data by using said key code, wherein said largecapacity data sales server sends said registration confirmation signalto said user terminal upon receiving from said large capacity data salesmediation server results of said authentication indicating that saiduser identification information is authentic.
 7. The large capacity datasales mediation method according to claim 6, further comprising a stepof: counting at said large capacity data sales server a number of userterminals storing the key code corresponding to said online access code,wherein sending from said large capacity data sales server to said userterminal said registration confirmation signal occurs upon acquiringinformation on the key code corresponding to said online access code anddetermining that the number of user terminals storing said key code issmaller than a predetermined number.
 8. The large capacity data salesmediation method according to claim 6, wherein said large capacity datasales server sends to said user terminal said registration confirmationsignal upon receiving payment of a usage charge for said large capacitydata.
 9. The large capacity data sales mediation method according toclaim 8, further comprising steps of: paying by a manager of said largecapacity data sales mediation server said usage charge to a manager ofsaid large capacity data sales server; and collecting by the manager ofsaid large capacity data sales mediation server said usage charge. 10.The large capacity data sales mediation method according to claim 6,further comprising steps of: sending by said user terminal to said largecapacity data sales server a deregistration request signal including arequest for erasure of said key code in the user terminal; sending bysaid large capacity data sales server a deregistration confirmationsignal to said user terminal; and receiving at said user terminal saidderegistration confirmation signal and erasing at said user terminalsaid key code.
 11. A large capacity data sales mediation system having auser terminal, a large capacity data sales mediation server and a largecapacity data sales server, said user terminal comprising: means forsending to said large capacity data sales mediation server aregistration request signal including user identification informationand an online access code unique to large capacity data stored in alarge capacity storage medium; means for receiving from said largecapacity data sales mediation server a registration confirmation signalincluding a key code corresponding to said online access code; means forencrypting said key code; means for storing said encrypted key code; andmeans for reproducing large capacity data by using the key code, saidlarge capacity data sales mediation server comprising: storage means forstoring user information; means for determining whether user informationcorresponding to said user identification information is stored in saidstorage means; means for sending said online access code to said largecapacity data sales server; means for receiving from said large capacitydata sales server said key code corresponding to said online accesscode; means for sending to the user terminal said registrationconfirmation signal; and means for counting a number of user terminalsstoring the key code, and said large capacity data sales servercomprising: means for storing information on the key code correspondingto said online access code; and means for acquiring the key codecorresponding to said online access code from said means for storinginformation and sending the key code to said large capacity data salesmediation server, wherein said large capacity data sales mediationserver sends said registration confirmation signal to said user terminalupon acquiring user information corresponding to the user identificationinformation from said storage means, meeting at the large capacity datasales server a condition that the key code corresponding to said onlineaccess code is stored in said means for storing information, anddetermining that the number of user terminals storing the key code issmaller than a predetermined number.
 12. The large capacity data salesmediation system according to claim 11, wherein said large capacity datasales mediation server sends to said user terminal said registrationconfirmation signal upon further receiving payment of a usage charge forsaid large capacity data.
 13. The large capacity data sales mediationsystem according to claim 11, wherein said user terminal furthercomprises: means for sending to said large capacity data sales mediationserver a deregistration request signal for requesting erasure of saidkey code in the user terminal; and means for receiving a deregistrationconfirmation signal from said large capacity data sales mediationserver; and means for erasing said key code in said user terminal, andwherein said large capacity data sales mediation server furthercomprises means for sending said deregistration confirmation signal tosaid user terminal.
 14. A large capacity data sales mediation methodcomprising steps of: extracting at a user terminal from a large capacitystorage medium an online access code corresponding to large capacitydata and sending a registration request signal including useridentification information and said online access code to a largecapacity data sales mediation server; sending by said large capacitydata sales mediation server the online access code to said largecapacity data sales server; retrieving at said large capacity data salesserver a key code corresponding to said online access code and sendingby said large capacity data sales server said key code to said largecapacity data sales mediation server; sending by the large capacity datasales mediation server to said user terminal a registration confirmationsignal including the key code; encrypting at said user terminal said keycode; storing at said user terminal said encrypted key code; andreproducing at said user terminal the large capacity data by using saidkey code, wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server sendsto said user terminal said registration confirmation signal upon saidlarge capacity data sales mediation server acquiring user informationcorresponding to said user identification information, said largecapacity data sales server acquiring the key code corresponding to saidonline access code, and said large capacity data sales mediation serverdetermining that a number of user terminals storing the key code issmaller than a predetermined number.
 15. The large capacity data salesmediation method according to claim 14, wherein said large capacity datasales mediation server sends to said user terminal said registrationconfirmation signal upon further receiving payment of a usage charge forsaid large capacity data.
 16. The large capacity data sales mediationmethod according to claim 14, further comprising steps of: sending bysaid user terminal to said large capacity data sales mediation server aderegistration request signal including a request for erasure of saidencrypted key code in the user terminal; sending by said large capacitydata sales mediation server a deregistration confirmation signal to saiduser terminal; and receiving at said user terminal the deregistrationconfirmation signal and erasing at said user terminal said encrypted keycode.
 17. A large capacity data sales mediation server comprising: meansfor receiving from a user terminal a registration request signalcomprising an online access code and user identification information,said user terminal having large capacity data stored in a large capacitystorage medium; storage means for storing user information; means forstoring information on a key code corresponding to said online accesscode; means for acquiring the key code from a large capacity data salesserver and storing the key code in said means for storing; means fordetermining whether user information corresponding to said useridentification information is stored in said storage means; means foracquiring the key code from said means for storing and sending to theuser terminal a registration confirmation signal comprising the keycode; and means for counting a number of user terminals storing the keycode, wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server sends tosaid user terminal said registration confirmation signal upon acquiringuser information corresponding to said user identification informationfrom said storage means, acquiring the key code from said means forstoring, and t determining that the number of user terminals storing thekey code is smaller than a predetermined number, and wherein said keycode is used by said user terminal to reproduce said large capacity dataat said user terminal.
 18. The large capacity data sales mediationserver according to claim 17, wherein said large capacity data salesmediation server acquires said key code from said large capacity datasales server upon failing to acquire said key code from said means forstoring.
 19. The large capacity data sales mediation server according toclaim 17, wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server sendsto said user terminal said registration confirmation signal upon furtherreceiving payment of a usage charge for said large capacity data. 20.The large capacity data sales mediation server according to claim 17,further comprising means for receiving a deregistration request signalfrom said user terminal and for sending a deregistration confirmationsignal to said user terminal.
 21. A large capacity data sales mediationmethod comprising steps of: extracting, at a user terminal, from a largecapacity storage medium an online access code corresponding to largecapacity data and sending a registration request signal comprising useridentification information and said online access code to a largecapacity data sales mediation server; sending by a large capacity datasales server to said large capacity data sales mediation server a keycode corresponding to said online access code; storing at said largecapacity data sales mediation server said key code; sending by the largecapacity data sales mediation server to said user terminal aregistration confirmation signal including the key code; encrypting atsaid user terminal said key code; storing at said user terminal saidencrypted key code; counting at said large capacity data sales mediationserver a number of user terminals storing said key code; and reproducingat said user terminal the large capacity data by using said key code,wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server sends to saiduser terminal said registration confirmation signal upon acquiring userinformation corresponding to said user identification information fromsaid large capacity data sales mediation server, acquiring the key codefrom either said large capacity data sales mediation server or saidlarge capacity data sales server, and determining that the number ofuser terminals storing the key code is smaller than a predeterminednumber.
 22. The large capacity data sales mediation method according toclaim 21, wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server sendsto said user terminal said registration confirmation signal upon furtherreceiving payment of a usage charge for said large capacity data. 23.The large capacity data sales mediation method according to claim 21,further comprising steps of: upon said large capacity data salesmediation server failing to acquire said key code, sending by said largecapacity data sales mediation server the online access code to saidlarge capacity data sales server; and sending by said large capacitydata sales server the key code to said large capacity data salesmediation server.
 24. The large capacity data sales mediation methodaccording to claim 56, further comprising steps of: sending by said userterminal to said large capacity data sales mediation server aderegistration request signal including a request for erasure of saidencrypted key code in the user terminal; sending by said large capacitydata sales mediation server send a deregistration confirmation signal tosaid user terminal; and upon receiving the deregistration confirmationsignal from said large capacity data sales mediation server, erasing atsaid user terminal said encrypted key code.